You can't kick the tires on a pay skin, all you can do is judge the graphic quality and overall design based on the screenshot.
You get to judge the tactile feel to a skin after deciding, based on teh screenshot and after you buy it, then you can comment on the tactile aspects.
plenty of people have chimed in.
I stated that 'Unfortunately all you have is the appearance to start with'. That is a given.
Let's get to it.
Lightstar did NOT make it clear that he was critisizing the graphics. He slammed the skin and it's quality on a whole by not being specific. Now, you can say that I am wrong and I am 'assuming' that is what he did..but you want us to assume that that is NOT what he meant when you say things like
I was merely pointing out that I'm sure that graphics was what was being referred to by any and all commenters as, indeed it is all that they were looking at and after all...
IMO opinion and quite a few others, including Mods/Admins that have spoken up...someone of his accomplishments, talent, standing (he does not get off the hook just because he does not have the tilte of Master. YOU were one who spoke up on the notion that he should have the title, so coming from a 'Master', that is a pretty strong endorsement) he should have been more responsible and thoughtful. He should have utilized the talent and knowledge that makes him such an excellent craftsman to point things out. He chose not to. I don't believe any one is disputing his right to voice an opinion...they are voicing their dissapointment in how it was done..or the 'lack' of what should have been (IMO) a more constructive crtitique considering the source.
This whole thread almost reads like an orchestrated distraction from the facts as they truly are. He messed up. Oops. That's all. Whatever his motives, whatever the 'big freakin conspiracy' is, I have yet to see anyone offer any thing concrete to back it up. But this kind of fodder just feeds the fire.
As much as I hate backtracking, and I am not trying to scream the loudest or have the last word, but there is something else that was skimmed over that I am curious about...
I wonder if any Master could hold up to an in depth review of their skin. Something on the level of Engadget and the way they will deconstruct a cell phone and list it's pro's and cons. On that note, my suggestions would be that Masters and/or Journeymen (No Mods or Admin) fullfill part of their obligation to contribute more to the community and take turns doing in depth reviews of the Master skins. They could also feature a skin by someone who is not a Master but may well be on their way. The Master skin would have to be made available to the reviewer free of charge. (If SOny or Samsung can fork over a free phone for review, I think it could be done with a skin)
Perhaps have anyone who is willing to take on this task submit an audition review for the admins and mods to look over and decide who may be best suited for such a task. The review should reflect a persons ability to be knowledgable, objective, articulate (leaves me out) , and informative. The review would cover usability, craftsmanship, artistic presence, etc. Not much different than reviewing the work of an architect as you are looking at multiple points of interest and importance.
Would this not offer a solution? The comments are not going to go away. It would be too exclusive. A 'test drive' skin would be something akin to just making a template available for someone to use. Why not a regular posting where skins are deconstraucted and reviewed based on the criteria I have layed out? It could be modified to be acceptable by a majority of skinners/Masters if need be. It could even be the first review posted beneath the skin instead of a weekly article. Or is there no one you feel that would be up to the task?