Lee, I am glad to hear we could entertain you. The fact is that I do hope you gain a bit more appreciation for our chosen scale. We really take this seriously, not just those of us who do this professionally.
Let me share a story with you about my past. I am use to the O scale and HO bias that has been present against any other scale (N, TT, Z, etc). About 20+ years ago, I was starting my model train career. I had already started my path on Z scale and loved it. But I wanted to learn from the 'big boys' and started visiting an HO club. They seemed like great guys and even had a few Z items in a case on the wall. I loved their layout and wanted to learn their techniques. One member took me underwing and encouraged me to join the club. I dutifully filled out the application and waited. I never heard back. I asked the member who was my contact, what had happened. He explained that the club rejected my membership since I was into Z scale. They felt I had nothing to offer.
Today I run one of the largest Z scale companies in the world. I reach 40 countries and have industry contacts across the world. I am a proud member of the HMA (Hobby Manufacturers Association). I often think back to this slight and laugh. Yes, I had nothing to offer... and look where I am today. So my point is that we take this seriously. We believe in this scale. We are also very open to invite you or any model railroader into our scale. We are open and I for one will not close the door as it was closed to me. So before you knock Z, give it a try. You may be surprised. It is quite addicting.
On a side note, I am now a member of COSE. These are the Central Ohio S Scale Enthusiast. They are an absolutely wonderful group of guys who have welcomed my Z brethren with open arms. Our club, the COZE (Central Ohio Z Enthusiasts) have been sharing space and running layouts side by side for years. I know this bias towards Z is not universal. There are quite a lot of open minded model train enthusiasts who just like to watch wheels on track, regardless the scale.
Rob
