I didn't take Simon's words as an attack; in fact my words may have been more 'inciteful' to him than insightful. What I meant by underestimating the viewing public is that when I learn on the Internet (whether it's from posts here on SMC or YTube) I usually find multiple sources because it's so easy. I very quickly find out whom to trust.
I guess what I'm saying is that I've found it easy - even when I was a novice - to spot good and bad information, or to parse out good and bad parts. So, I think even neophytes can be quite discerning. We're not 5-years old and believing everything thrown at us.
I don't begrudge someone for criticizing bad advice - or even encouraging people to strive for better, neater, tighter results. But I don't think having second rate skills should be a barrier to posting. If all I saw was top tier work on the Internet, I might never have been encouraged to try myself. The Internet has created an "I can make that, learn that, cook that" attitude that I just think is wonderful.
There will probably always be a tension between the eager-to-post and the seasoned-restrained-experts. I believe the most healthy approach is for the experts to embrace the medium and to correct and guide without discouraging. But I respect too that this opinion may be mine and not yours.