TCN

I agree with the contributors. We are going to scuttle along the bottom for the foreseeable future. This recession and associated job-loss really shook people up fiscally and emotionally. Plus, when we skated out of the last recession--at least the way I remember it--stuff like the consumer use of the internet was just starting. People still faxed. Venture capital flowed like water (hello Pets.com...good-bye Pets.com). I lived in Virginia during these days (not far from AOL) and no joke, the region saw a vast influx of millionaires all the time because of that (and other organizations). Virginia wasn't the only place, either. That kind of wealth-generation potential--millionaire janitor kind of stuff--just isn't in the cards on this climb back. Other stuff is: weatherization, green, etc. Again, I agree with the team: the certification paper-chase is the best way to sink your teeth into those dollars. Or, you could invent the next internet thingie...just sayin'...

I think Fine Homeblogging, suggested above, nails it. Construction Junction, though a slant rhyme (you guys aren't the only English majors with tool belts), has a nice ring to it.

The answer for me is a resounding "both." Though an East Coaster, I swapped out to wormdrives some years back--and haven't looked back. For whatever reason I've always worked my framing packages sans sawhorses, so the in-line, down-cut a wormdrive offers fits my accidental style. But I also love them for their smooth operation in finish work: running a wormdrive along my shoot board trimming a door or making an MDF shelf is what I'm talkin' about. I even use the auxiliary handle. And for building decks--fugghetabout it. Whether lopping off joists or trimming the decking its wormdrive all the way. However, there's room for sidewinding on my sites and that comes in the form of a 6 1/2 inch tool, whether it's a 36 volt Bosch cordless or a Ridgid Fuego. Both are ideal for all kinds of stuff from fencing to vertical plunge cuts and interior remodeling where room to move is at a premium. Short story long, both platforms make sense, as does the eminently experienced and sensible Mr. Haun.

I was going to weigh in on this, but the weight has already been dropped I see.

There is really is no debate on my sites. For crowns that are cope-able, coping is infinitely faster (I cope all the inside rights before cutting the dead-ends to length). And you can tune the corner sooooo much better/faster it's...well...been said above.

Some crowns you can't cope, like a Greek revival style, in which case I like to get my brain in miter-mode early. And if you're building up a crown--you know, the upside down base trick--coping offsets the shadow-lines in the inside corner as the molding climbs toward the ceiling. It's not so bad if you only have one piece on the wall, but if you lay a third piece on the ceiling, now you've got lines all over the place. It looks like a rural road on a map for cripe's sake. To keep it clean I miter them all on built-ups--and STILL have a hard time getting them exact.