Dave, I know what you are saying about power tools, but i find them a necessary evil to a certain extent, having I guess what you would say are just about all the basics, and none of that joint-a-matic type gear that they come up with. I'd be more inclined to thickness by hand if people were willing to pay for it, save the need to lift weights too! Quality machinery makes a heck of a difference, and much more enjoyable to use than rougher stuff. A precise table saw however, I think particularly is a thing of beauty. I need to hand plane everything after machining, not the crude cut and sand to a line approach. Good machining is pretty critical for good woodwork, nice clean and accurate cuts makes for inspiring and consistent all the way through a job. Europeans have a somewhat different approach, and they like precision. Festool is out of that. Some pretty wigged out things can be done with one particular piece of equipment that they put out. Gaps are unacceptable, it's pleasing to find a means to that end, and not by just pushing buttons.