Warren in Lancaster, PA
Here are some things I have written on this forum in the past.
April 4,2006

I think my experience contradicts some of your notions about planes. I have used a Bailey type smoother since 1973. I have never used a back bevel. Here is some history of my experience.
1975. Last time I had any problems with clogging.
1976. Last time I used a bevel up plane.
1977. Last time I had any problems with tearout and last use of a scraper on a planed surface.

1978 Last use of sandpaper on a planed surface.

As you can see, I didn't learn to use it overnight. I now use the smoother so unconsciously that it would take perhaps two years of daily use to compare another type of plane. But I must say that the problems with the Bailey plane that you enumerate seem somewhat fanciful.

December 8, 2007
Adam, the double iron is a sophisticated instrument. For things to work well everything has to be just so. There is no shame in having trouble with it. If the idea of learning to use hot hide glue turns you off, the double iron is not for you. It takes a fair amount of practice to get a good feel for it. I can say that the benefits of learning are well worth the effort and I would not want to be without it.

I am not the best person for troubleshooting, especially without having the plane in my hand. I have only ever maintained five bench planes: a fore plane, a trying plane, a jointer and two smoothers. All were put into service between 1973 and 1983, so its been a long time since I was dealing with cranky planes. Often I read about some tuning operation on this forum that I had long forgotten about.

And this on WoodNet March 5, 2008

I have used the double iron for controlling tearout for more than thirty years. It is a sophisticated system requiring practice and judgment. It does not surprise me that many do not have this skill. There is no shame in not knowing how to do it. However the lack of this skill is not something to brag about, as many have done.

The pole vault record is somewhere around 20 feet, but if you took a bunch of middle aged people and handed each a pole you wouldn't expect much the first day. I can imagine some saying the pole just got in the way, or they could jump higher without it.

It does surprise me how many were unable to read the information presented by Kato and Elliot. Those who suggested that the setting needed to be within .004" might reread the material.