I haven't had time to read through this thread, but I'd like to make a big point as a multifaceted artist myself.
No matter if we play music, or create it with samples and squealing pig sounds.. we are artists beyond software users.
Without a DAW, we will record, without recording we will play or at least make a noise to be heard.
And it's that way with everything I do... the mediums I use are just that, a medium, a way to get from here to there.
In no way should our workflow, as it works for us, be thwarted or minimized.
A DAW is like a brush, and the chosen plugins, or their use, the colors, and to pin yourself down, or be pinned down to shades of blue, is going to hurt the art in some way... if the colors aren't right, then it's not right... period!
I'll use any software I can, anytime I can, and how I can, to get the art out, and whether it's oils, water colors, or pretty berries, I'll use what I must.
If one DAW or 10 is right, it don't matter ... sometimes I'll use every brush in the cup, others I'll use a single stick out of the yard. But I'll never feel that my brushes are better or worse, only different.
Any musician or producer, whether they made something, or just use it, should understand that, and I bet we all use what we need, and can get our grubby paws on when we need to.
When it boils down ... there is no us and them, as I believe most staff are musicians or artists in some way.
Being open minded and learning from each other got us here from scratching lyrics in stones, and sharing ideas will carry us forward to who knows where.
Discussion and being open is never a bad thing, it keeps the users/artists around to know they are allowed to be artists in every sense IMO.
From purely a business owners perspective, even comparisons with competition gives me a greater chance to shine, allowing it and listening even more-so, and makes us all brighter at the end of the day. lol
That my friends ... is the biggest thing that keeps me here ... the open minded artists, users, and the educating discussions, on any topic related or not!
Artists are sales, not the other way around... although I have heard some "music" that make me rethink that lol.
And that's what I "thunk" about that!