This thread, which for a time stayed in the realm of lively but respectful debate, has now quite clearly and unfortunately degenerated into ad hominem. (Not referring to the immediately preceding post.)
Accordingly, we are sticking a fork in it and, as a result, there will now have to be less leeway afforded for such off-topic discussions in this forum. 
/Moderator
Last edited by dstan; Feb 14, 2012 at 10:24 pm