@KevinL I am really sorry if you felt my reference to your post was ill-intended. Honestly, no offence intended at all. Regarding the "how do you carry your binoculars" post, I was simply reading what I assumed was your surprise:
You say you did not expect to see neck strap being the most popular option, so I simply assumed "I did not expect" counts as a surprise. But, again, do accept my apologies if you felt my words had any criticism or malicious intentions.
As for this thread, again, I think the issue can lie in implying that one's thoughts/assumptions or ideas are "the best" (like the OP seems to be doing regarding hi powered binos on tripod). As a mere example, a few words from your last reply.
I'm all in for sharing and learning (that's basically what we all do here, and I really like it in here), but again, stating opinions as facts is not a good starting point. So, for you, in your very own personal opinion, "
harnesses are superior to neck straps for comfort in carrying binoculars" and, again, for you, "
full sized binoculars are the best all around tools for birding". But it turns out that there might be people for whom a harness is not a superior choice (in this forum, it turns out a majority if we are to believe the small number of participants in a poll means anything) and for whom a 8x32 or a 8x56, 8x25, 7x15 (or whatever floats their boat) is superior, for them. For example, for me a 8x42 is of little use. I've tried it, and it simply does not work for me. I rather have an 8x32 and then something really specialized for long reach or dark conditions. So, again, for me, the 8x42 is the worst of all worlds, but that's just me, I would never dare saying that "8x32 is the best and I'm surprised why not everybody has discovered it yet".
I think it is essential to always make a difference between facts an opinion. Are x42 brighter than x32 in dark conditions? Yes, they are, that's a fact. Does this make them better, "
best all around tools for birding": well, not necessarily, because they're also heavier and bulkier, and for some users that might be a deciding factor in what makes
"a best all around tool for birding", not even starting to think that in this forum you can find birders from Finland to South Africa, from Alaska to Japan and everything in between, so their priorities and needs are so varied that it's really hard to say what it's best for anyone... only each one will know... and I think that's the beauty of it, and what makes us share and learn what others think.
Again, no offence intended, accept my apologies. And, again, the world is a really broad place with plenty of opinions to learn from.