but another big part of the problem is this false perception that you can just buy some software, an interface, ask a few questions on a forum and blag some cool samples , then buy a POD XT and magically you will be a recording engineer. i have definitely noticed the phenomenon you mentioned of "newbies" (don't really like that term as it seems unnecessarily derogatory) seem to have little concept of WHEN they need to learn things.... putting the cart before the horse, to cop a an old metaphor, and asking questions about advanced techniques well before getting any solid grounding in basic recording. it's not "criminal" though... curiosity is human nature... so i suspect this trend will continue no matter what you are i or even Andy says about it.
it does however warrant mentioning and airing out, because i think many here need a little perspective.... in reading this forum and more often in private IM conversations with many of the members here, i sense a kind of desperation... maybe impatience is a better word... to become a great engineer and rise to the level of Andy, Fredrik, insert your personal fave here.