That's exactly my mentality. Or pretty darn close anyway. Love Madison's work, but haven't gotten anything due to the inconvenience. I have a hard enough time with DVD's. I love just taking a book and the needed materials, lock myself into my screenless room and work on an effect and the knowledge. But unfortunately, a lot of newer artists don't have books out...
My thoughts exactly, DVDS are good, but books just seem to have that special 'something' to me. Like a book of spells! Who ever heard of a DVD of spells?!? I think they key word you used above there is 'knowledge'. DVD's are great for learning methods, but you don't have to invest them time you would reading a book, and you never really get to know the effect properly.
Maybe it's just us. i started magic when i was 8 (16 years ago) when nobody really put out DVD's or videos and there was no youtube. If i wanted to learn something, I used to save up my pocket money and get my mum to phone (not really any online magic dealers back then) one of the UK magic companies and order books for me! I think it really made me appreciate what I had, as i didn't just have new material available to download on demand like people do today.
God, for a 24 year old I don't half sound like an old man sometimes!!
R