So... local hardwood/ lumber dealer doesn't have any wide plank boards available other than 2x12 vertical grain Doug Fir (pretty expensive @ $25 per linear foot) or knotty white pine. Anything else would have to be glued up to make the widths necessary for the aprons and tops (was planning on having a split-top for clamping, tool slot, etc.). I don't think I've seen any Nicholson style benches with glued-up tops... but I don't think there would be anything particularly *wrong* with it, would there?