Two of the keys to consulting are to listen to people's needs and to be prepared to compromise.
Another two are credibility with the client and ability to get enough people to think you know what you are talking about to make a living.
Nick Clarke's original email made reasonable points and seemed to balance up different considerations in a thoughtful way.
I think there are at least two points in there that lead me to doubt the rigour of the depth of thought. Though probably some of that is a communication thing due to the limitations of the medium. Still, nothing like a bit of vigorous debate to liven up the weekend :-)
I didn't agree with a lot of what he wrote, but I think he mentioned his 20 years "in the business", not so much to "prove his rightness", but to point out that his opinions were the result of experience rather than bigotry.
Just shows how much opinion differs because my twenty odd years in the business lead to different conclusions. The tone of a post can be pretty instrumental in triggering a flame war. Thing is never to take anything said on Usenet or a mail list personally. OTOH if you really believe someone's opinion is duff why not just say so?
We share a lot of common ground on this list, but sometimes you'd never guess it from the (personal nature of the) conflagrations.
Better than having a sterile mutual admiration society ;-) Regards, -- IanL