I quite agree M.Ted but, in a typical (but not "true") "session" there will always be a couple of egocentrics, "local legends" or non-etiquette-trained bozos who insist on drowning everyone else out or outpacing them by a couple of dozen beats per bar. Rather than trying to compete I have tended to have gone in the other direction and rather enjoy the new-found "melodious delicacy" of playing in Bee-dubya-ell's suggested smaller groups of like minded individuals or even by myself.

Peace

moo