Kendall, your story reminds me of a quote attributed to Samuel Johnson, when he heard a piece being butchered by a singer. Boswell sait "It's a really difficult piece" to which Johnson replied "Difficult, Sir? I wish it were impossible!"

In modern English I generally revise that to "Too bad it's not impossible"

I attempt classical banjo tunes myself and find MOST of them difficult if not impossible. I think Vess Ossman had three hands. I play simplified versions of some of the great ones; St. Louis Tickle, Smokey Mokes, Peaceful Henry, At a Georgia Camp Meeting, and so on. Dill Pickles on the banjo (in a non-Scruggs three finger style) seems to work out easily-- Rick, would love to compare notes (pun deliberate) some time!