TomD
"This is an honest question, for I am bewildered. Judging by what gets posted and the questions asked, the folks that hang out here spend a larger fraction of their time making stuff for their shop than the folks that hang out on the other Forums."

Part of the reason for that is other activities like power tool woodworking, and turning, are only rarely accomplished with tools and stuff that are home made. And even then the standard tends to be the plywood box, as opposed to hand cut dovetails. So the centerpiece of a power tool shop, out of necessity is normally the table, saw. While out of necessity in the hand tool shop it is the workbench, and/or tool cabinet.

" I have always been mildly curious why one would choose to spend time building a tool chest (to take any example) when the skills could be used to build a toy chest(as an analogous example). My curiosity went up a notch with this post."

While I get the squelch, I do think the case can be made that a mature person, with an an appreciation of fine furnishings, is actually the better target of a box they could use for 60 years, as opposed to the box a kid outgrows in 5-10 years. Not to mention one doesn't have to deal with the sense of betrayal that occurs when they don't use it.

"The cabinet appears to be the nicest piece of furniture I have seen posted on this site. I can not imagine why it isn't hanging in the most prominent part of the house (1)as a useful and decorative cabinet and (2) a testimony to the skills of the maker."

I) As others have said, because for some the shop is the center of the house.

2) When it comes to the kind of work many of us make, the shop is a place where it is more likely to be appreciated.

In America, people generally appreciate only stuff that is expensive, which pretty much excludes the stuff any of us makes, since dollars and brand are pretty much inseparable. The other thing in demand is stuff that has a "look" which means the appearance of a thing, which pretty much passes over the whole deep detailing that goes into a real piece. Not even museum curators of fine woodworking have the slightest idea what a piece really means, so it just makes sense for makers to hang onto stuff rather than to give it up for cheap praise from ignoramuses

"I don't get it. Why aren't you all using your considerable skills and resources making stuff for your "family" instead of the shop?"

I suppose there is also the possibility that some people are doing that, but share shop related stuff due to relevance. But in general family doesn't get it. They don't have the background to like your work any more than a nail clipping you drop, "because it was yours". I'm lucky that my wife has built boats with me, and other stuff, and that she listens to me go on and on. My parents are both highly skilled, and my in-laws include an internationally known needlewoman. But it still comes down to the same point basically.

It is kinda the same reason people go to the VFW rather than share stories with their family. The family doesn't know, therefore would gain the most from hearing, but they can't ever get to understand, unless they got there through the same path.

And what that means is that if you make stuff for other people your work will always be taken down to their level. Which seems like a waste of time.