TomD
I wouldn't call it harsh. We benefit from a realistic look in, and they benefit form it also, if they were to run across our musings, and were interested.

But basically, there is not a real use for these things. So what makes it a worthwhile endeavor is that they are making something that is difficult and beautiful, has some kind of reason behind it, and specified features. Woodworkers can get excited about meaningless stuff around the fit of their drawers, of whether their planes can make a flawless finish. It would seem obscure to people who were not hooked.

As a group, blacksmiths are the overall most impressive I have seen in the home craft kind of world. If they need a rolling mill, they will figure out how to make it with a 1/2 hp motor. They are amazingly self-reliant. If I had it to do all over again, I would start with toolmaking. It is more economical, and seems to encourage independent minds.

(I just looked up McDonald Rolling Mill). There are all kinds of videos online. Last time I looked, the only video started with a young woman firing a sub-machinegun.

Here is just one random pic of a master smith 5 for the final test: