Interesting thread in that i understand both points of view. I too have a love of old things and wonder about how things were built in the past. I've made lard and tallow(and continue to do so to help pass this knowledge down, besides a old fashioned hog killing is a good excuse for a gathering of men for drinking) Its one of the reasons that i have a love of old tools. I can look at a the frame of a old house and by the tool marks picture how it was built. Finding a old arrow head as a child lead me to learn knapping. Are any of these skills handy today? Nope but I do get a a lot of enjoyment in exploring how problems were solved in the past.