Thanks for the post Patrick - when I learned to fingerpick, it was at a class at the Ash Grove in LA in '64. Fingerpicking 101 was just "Freight Train!" We started with "pinch - alternating bass" and then did every variation under the Sun for 10 weeks - my roommates almost made me move out, but that's what it took for me to learn. Some people (me for one) need all the synapses to line up in an orderly way to learn anything - some people can hear something once or twice and they're off. The Folks should find what works best for them.
For Dave's tab aversion, I again suggest Tabledit - to see and hear tab being played is so much fun that sometimes I just play the file. See Mike Joyce's tabledit file for You are My Flower, for me there was no way I could ever get the timing without seeing it in print.
Poppa G - I stared working on Satisfied after seeing Jo Serraperre - look for her cd's. Now that I have Stefan's book out I will try Mermaids! Lots of fun too to play Richland Women along with Maria Muldaur - love mp3's!!
Chris