thomd
>We had a guy at seminar who not only believed the natural stone are better, but that he had reached a point of development with his chisels that just sharpening them on the artificial stones would be a serious set-back. It wouldn't be just a step down from his usual level, but as though he would have to start all over again. I found that part hard to believe, but i don't think he is alone in beleiving it. Seasoning or something.

It is a relatively comon phenomenon that scientific types, will dismiss an ancient belief, only to later find there was a reason for it. Normally the scientifc position in such circumstances is to call the thing they don't understand a superstition, or religious observance.