Fritzer,
There are different needs for different users. I don't know in wich area you are working and when you talk about workflow I assume that not in the same as mine.
Beginner? Well, kind of, I've never hiden where I am at the moment: just an humble assistant that is building his personal portfolio.
But the fact is I assist on a daily basis 2 star photographers and that means, huge production, international top models, big team, big brands etc...so I'm pretty much aware of what the workflow means beleive me and if you want to know who are they, I will be pleased to send you a personal message.
When I write things here (with my more than unperfect english I admit), it is not to criticize for criticizing. But I'm asking myself the same question about who's who, and who's advices are coming from a deep understanding of what the real work is, at least in the commercial photography and specially fashion (the area that I know), because it seems that we don't see the same things.
Maybe it is my lack of long years experience, maybe it is because my relativly young age, but my teacher is the plateau, not the forums apart from some photographers that I respect here their works and experience.
Each time we point about the progress we would like MF brands to do, it is regarded as a personal attack to the format, so what we should do is just being happy about the usability, the tether and the lcd and the prices. But the comments are not based on some wired wishes. Is it too much to ask when we are talking about those top gear products that the manufacturers send professional level photography instead of these snapshots that we generally see when release a new product? As James said, horrors and horrors...and like it or not, that's the reality.
In fact, DPreviewish websites should open a new MF section because that is exactly the kind of pics that are spread over and over again. At the beginning I was ok with that, I didn't even understood why some experienced photographers where complaining about, but now I join their views.
I'm always thankfull when soneone take the time to show files, but always disapointed that they are generally snapshots, with little if none information about the real back capabilities.
And when I read people getting enthousiastic about those snaps I just think that forums are democratic institutions where every voice counts...
It has been a long time now since I haven't seen a MF gear in at work, in fact, years. But again, I'm talking about fashion. I'm aware that for landscape, art and arquitecture etc...backs have their strengh, of course.
But the fact is that we would like to work with it, I would like to be able to take a Phase instead of the Canon 99%, but it is just too slow and too many hassles.
In my philosophy, I hate tether, others would love it and that's perfectly respectable. So my claim to MF is: give us the choice. If they just ged rid-of the computer dependence one day, I'm ready to invest a lot of money on those gear, but the reality of the production does not suit this jacket. None of the top photographers that I'm working with at the moment is shooting with backs, but they where in the past.
Also the gearmania, yes this forum is extremely usefull. Probably the best place to be on the internet for tech and gear. This is indeed a very powerfull exchange tool. But I never heard any real artist being obsess with gear, never in my all life. I was talking about when things reach the obsession, and I thing it happens quite a lot over the internet. Not of course about the healphy interest to talk and share about gear techs and specs.
IMHO.