Somebody please correct me if I am wrong but I think Tom's original
point is being missed. In other words, I think people are reading too
much into it.

I do not think Tom is saying people who use hand tools are superior to
people who use power tools or vice versa, even.

I think he is saying that a real woodworker is going to have the
finished product in mind and build an herloom.

On the other hand, there are many people out there who call themselves
woodworkers, who have all the latest tools, who read book-after-book
and article-after-article on everything woodworking, are anal in their
process to the point of silliness, all for a Pukey Duck.

Not that there is anything wrong with power tools or even Pukey Ducks
for that matter. What were the reaosn behind his story? Did he just
talk to somebody for the 100th time who declares themself a master
woodworker with all the latest tools and has read all the latest books
and magazines all the while just making bird houses a kid can make?
Did he have the privilege to speak with a man who has limited amout of
tools in his shop--and maybe nothing newer than 40-years-old--who
produces incredible work? Both? Neither? An inquiring mind would like
to know...

I have to say, I sort of know where Tom is coming from and if I am not
too careful, I sort of fall into exactly what he is talking about. I
do tend to read a lot but I think it is because I do not have enough
time in my life right now to devote to actually cutting wood. I have
not done enough actual making of things. I need to find a way to spend
more time in the garaaaa--er--shop to become more like the first guy
and less like the pukey-duck fellow.