TomD
"That's huckstering. Lots of people do it, like I said below, it's not bad on its own. It is the objection to industrialization and productivity at the expense of craft while reaping a better life due to the increased disposable income from industrialization.

It happens all over the woodworking world, including one-off furniture makers. "here...looky...industrially produced furniture is ruining everything. I will make you a piece of furniture in the traditional way, and you'll pay me for something the middle and upper middle classes never would've been able to afford if we all did traditional woodwork".

Same thing. Huckstering."

I don't really see those as contradictory or particularly huckstering. Who says positions like arts and craft, or modern day craft against industrial views are absolutes. Mostly this kind of thing is only at the margins, it is pretty much impossible to be pure. As you say. These stances are reactionary they are the less than 1% reaction to the dominant culture that forms them in the first place. The world is full of relaxing nature walks that start with a miserable drive on some expressway, burning a lot of gas.