eostrich... I believe if you look at what I actually stated we're a bit more in agreement than not. . . though I do believe your perspective on card tricks & the laity is a bit askew given the number of major names in magic point out how boorish the things can be in their own acts. Context and perspective are the key with Cards or any other medium in ENTERTAINMENT and the fact is, there are more more poorly done card tricks out there than most any other aspect of magic. The reason being that the majority of magic lovers become addicted to the pasteboards but refuse to focus; always after the holy grail so to speak rather than finding it within their own hands using what they've already been given when it comes to rudimentary knowledge . . . an do understand that Vernon's fame stems from alternative circumstances far more than his own "grace" as it were. He was famous, infamous and even honored but the "fortune" side of the coin proved, shall we say, "Aloof". which is true when it comes to the majority of the card shark types of old as well as the general hustlers, which the Professor certainly was. . . he was a pitchman & barker after all.
By all means, a person could gain a solid reputation as a cardician and as you've pointed out, many have. What you (and most) fail to consider however, are the thousands of chumps that aren't the exception people like Dingle, Ricky Jay, Nash, etc. were. Our industry is filled with exceptions that everyone dwells and even leans upon when it comes to defending their actions. . . such as studying nothing but cards or coins, or whatever else. But we find little in print that addresses the multitude of deaf/dumb & blind fans of magic who deliberately ignored the other facets of the craft, feeling they needed nothing more. Those that ignore the subtleties and psychology that transfixes trickery, allowing the performer to demonstrate the miraculous. . . producing that mythical sandwich under the optimum conditions and points in time.
I know international stars of magic -- illusionists -- who don't know beans about Mentalism, Escapology, or close-up styled magic for that matter; they are experts at the grand and theatrical but ignorant when it comes to pulling bunnies from hats or birds from scarves. To my mind this is criminal and yet, it is quite an abundant thing; poor little rich kids with their $500,000.00 Johnny Gaughan or Bill Smith Magic Kit along with mommy & daddy social connections and financial backing that allows them to explode onto the scene without knowing the proper way of doing a French Drop let alone a reasonable sense of skill when it comes to the Cups & Balls, Coins Across, or the Billiard Balls. The more unfortunate side of this grossness, is that far too many forums as well as physical clubs, have become more focused on whatever the individuals wants to do vs. what needs to be in place first and why.
It's a sad thing, when magic clubs return to rebook someone like Eugene Burger because he didn't teach them a new Card Trick in his most recent talk. Yet it happens and it happens too often, simply because we'd rather learn how to do card tricks than Magic.
This is what I challenge people on, encourage them to consider and all going well, a handful of them will actually elect to be the latter rather than being another bum addicted to card mechanics that knows little to nothing about being an entertainer let alone magic itself.
