Hi! Bill, aren't you trying to say: 1. Care for what you're doing (photographing in this case)? 2. RTFM and then Result would be good?!
I really think that this thread is a little overreacted upon. That is, I wouldn't call a person who neither care much for they photography (not photographs, photography) nor RTFM a photographer. Then, if you did RFTM and if you care, it does not really matter which camera you use, as long you know which one to choose if you have several and how to operate one you chose properly. Furthermore, I think there is general kind of tradition to say that past masters were oh so good while today no-one comes even close. Naturally, when generations change, the next one would pick up some maestro among current photogs and the cycle will repeat itself. As I said, smarter cameras whose owners cared to RTFM make these owners think of themselves as smart. Which they probably are at least partially as they managed through TFM. You see, I don't buy into the expected answer "no" to the thread's question. If I weren't comparing my stuff with others, if I wasn't posting to this list and some others, if I hadn't acquired some friends who are also amateur photogs, I would still be a naive point-n-shooter. But all of the above had nothing to do with the fact that camera I bought and used for full year was fully automatic. It would've happened all the same if I bought a Spotmatic. Really, I must learn to say in one sentence what is being my point (when computers will be smart enough to help out here <VBG>)... The point being - if one relates to what one is doing with one's heart, the outcome is bound to be worthy experience at least. Boris P.S. Just in case - RTFM - read the f..g manual.
