Err, it would kinda defeat the purpose of coming here to learn about bonsai if I ignored someone with as much know how as you do. I'd be the last person to tell someone they couldn't disagree, I'm disagreeing here after all.
I've only been on these forums for a couple years and I've seen plenty of spats but this just seemed a lot more polarizing.
My thoughts on things like this are that if someone is rude, arrogant, whatever, that isn't going to keep me from wanting to learn from them if the opportunity presents itself. I'm not going to pretend to be their buddy, but I will pay attention. It's definitely more pleasant if I happen to like the person also, but not a requirement. I loved the retreat in Topeka this year mostly because in addition to learning a lot I hapened to really like the people there. I imagine at least a partial factor behind my attitude is my location. This ain't exactly bonsai central. I couldn't afford to alienate someone who may come within a couple hours of me at some point then not be able to go see what they do because of hard feelings. Maybe if Boon's visits become a regular thing I can be a bit more selective.
Another thing was I read the whole "wanker" thing a bit different. I didn't take it as meaning that anyone who doesn't own one of the "ruptured storks" (beautiful analogy btw Rockm) is a wanker. Seemed to me to be more of a reference to blowhards that tell people what they should or shouldn't do but don't have a single tree they can show that's worth a crap to back up the veracity of their advice.
Anyways, I probably should have posted this last night instead of jumping on people's backs. Seems hyprocritical of me after talking about not wanting to burn bridges, just trying to elaborate on where I was coming from.
Dan
JK... seriously though... it's worth a read. I learned a thing or two... which is always a nice change of pace. It was all I was asking of him from the begining... to give a little signal in all the marketing noise. 
