Nice summation, Mike T.
I was once in the "Power Tools are Better" category, but since have found the joy in using a freshly sharpened plane and/or chisel and properly burnished scrapers and I am now much more in the hand tool side of the fence.
Used planes surface on the market place for many reasons, with these 2 being the most popular, I think:
1) Someone bought decent tools, but never learned how to hone and sharpen them, how to tune them up, so once they came out of the box, they just sorta worked, but power tools and a sander were better, so they ended up on craigslist, eBay, or a garage sale
2) Grandfathers and Great Grandfathers handed down the tools to someone who did not see the value in those precious gifts and "got rid of them" (see also: mothers who threw out "old junky" boxes of sports cards)
Sometimes people just loose interest in woodworking, the wife says something has to go.....whatever. For one reason or another, they get sold. This is NOT indicative of a lack of value or performance.
I, for one, am glad they end up on the marketplace.
Don't get me wrong, power tools have their place in my shop (actually, most of my shop), but there really is nothing like using a plane as described above.
-j.
_________________ “If God dwells inside us like some people say, I sure hope He likes enchiladas, because that's what He's getting” -jack handy
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