there sure seems to be a lot of experience on here.

Here's my specs.
I've been involved in archery for just about 32 years. Been shooting compounds for 30 years now. Have dabbled and tweaked over that time and learned by doing. Have NEVER had a bow back in a shop after buying it, preferring to learn what makes them work by tearing them down piece by piece and putting them back together gain, tweaking and tuning to the nth degree.
I became a staff shooter for a sales rep in 1993 till this year when he finally retired. Then got an invitation to join Martin Archery as a "Silver Shooter". Lucky me.
I retired Jan 2003 and for want of something to do I went to work part-time for Gander Mt in their archery dept at the Harrisburg, Pa. store. My reason was I needed something to do AND I see far too many people shooting ill-fitting equipment that came from someone who does not know or refuses to set people up with proper fitting bows (draw length being the main culprit).
This has been a great sport for me, shooting competitively, bowhunting, and being a staff shooter. Working in a shoip gives me great pleasure in that I can help people rather than just sell them something. It's my way of "Giving something back". Another aspect is that I can keep up with some of the technological changes in the gear, learning much along the way.