Joelel,
My comments are not to state whether I do or do not like Brother Adam. He is dead! I never met him. I can only judge from what he wrote himself. Which if you think about it, may be a flawed way of judging another. So he is impartial to my thoughts. I am just asking of his work, and not of himself.
What I do know, is that some will consider anything written, anything stated, and make a beekeeper of the past out to be Godlike. I see it with brother Adam, Warre', and others.
I am simply implying that we need to keep in context what he was saying. We can not pull out small quotes, imply other meaning into the quotes, or assume he knew or did not know something. That is about what happened when this all started.
As for what he did, that is water under the bridge. For all his contributions, they were made at a time when other considerations were not given to things that perhaps today we would. If he wanted to do today (as example) what he did years ago, like travel around the world potentially collecting viral and bacterial concerns and spreading them about, I would be saying the same thing.
For most, to even suggest that Brother Adam could of done such a thing, is blasphemy. To suggest this mortal beekeeper made a mistake really ricks off some I'm sure.
But normally, this is too satisfy one's own agendas. We would be better served if we actually questioned what he did. That way, we could learn not just by what he did right, but perhaps what he did wrong.
As it now, someone whips out a quote from brother Adam, and for many, that is the end of the discussion. Who dares to question a quote from Brother Adam. Even if it is taken out of context.
As for your "test" buckfast that you keep dragging out....IT IS 28 YEARS OLD! Much has changed including the development of NWC, the introduction of Russians, and far more concentration on breeding efforts since t-mites, v-mites, and other issues have come into play. I may not of said whether I liked buckfast bees, but you imply very heavily, perhaps even "slanted" in your promoting them. If you think about it, you mentioning an outdated study from 28 years ago, is much like holding up the works of Brother Adam. Much has changed. ;)