If you were the only one swept away by the madness that seems to have seized this thread, this might be a personal rebuke. You weren't, and it's not.

We all like to advocate for our own preferences. However, there's no room for that sort of thing in a thread addressing a very general question such as this.

Whenever we criticize a question asked, it looks like an "ad-hominem" response, sort of like, "How could you be so silly?"

Not only is that inappropriate, but it doesn't help anyone.

I'd say that the way to answer a question is to stick to the subject and present an answer. After that, you can follow with, "You know, there might be another way to do this that works out better, (or cheaper, or smaller, or faster) and here's what it is."

The guys who are asking for anwers to their homework problems won't be back anyway. The ones who want to know something still want to know what they asked about, and they might benefit form what you add after answering their question. They don't want a sales pitch for mfgxxx. They want an answer.

RE