Charlie P., sorry it took so long to get back to you, but I had to go do some shooting and then came home to work on a couple of tweaks my bow needed. Tweaking...the one thing I hate about compounds.
You asked how techies flaunt their technology in the face of trads. I've seen it on this thread. If trads should voice their disagreement with the proliferation of technology, what are they met with? Sarcasm. Insults. You, yourself, have made a somewhat derogatory comment about fedora hats and shooting ability.
Have you ever shared a camp with a traditional bowhunter or have you just seen the 'drugstore cowboy' type trads at 3D shoots? One thing you have to say for them is that they are out there, shooting, practicing and gaining experience. As long as they hang in, learn and try hard, there is hope that they will blossom into true shooters.
At least they are not sitting on the couch at home, waiting for opening day to drag their cobweb draped bow out of the corner of the closet like far too many conventional 'bowhunters' do.
Most trads won't take a hunting shot over 20 yards. Many, even closer than that. For them to get a shot at game within their comfort zone, they have to be better hunters (or downright lucky) to make up for their lack of shooting skill. And being that close, they have to know the absolute best time to draw because there is no draw and hold till the deer decides to step on past that tree. It really is a whole nuther ball game the trads are playing compared to someone with all the doodads.
The thing is, they are successful at their game. Being successful with minimal equipment makes them question why anyone else needs all this stuff we've got these days. I've been basically a traditional shooter all my life, even before there was such a thing as trad. Now, I have to shoot mostly compounds (I like to refer to them as my orthopedic bows<img src=icon_smile_wink.gif border=0 align=middle>), and I have to say, based on 40 years of hunting experience, that a lot of this stuff is a waste of money.
When Lilhunter eluded to gadgetry and ethics/dedication, what I think he was really getting at is another aspect of hunting. Ethics and dedication have no relationship to gear. If it were otherwise, then there isn't a dedicated, ethical rifle hunter in the world, and we know that would be an absurd thing to say.
What I believe he meant is that gadgetry tries to be a store bought substitute for woodsmanship. Not in every instance, perhaps, but I believe that is the case, more often than not.
One of the basic founding principles of bowhunting is testing our woodsmanship and hunting skills against our quarry. When you try to take away from that, you're chipping away at the foundations of the sport.