For years I used my fingers nails, and a thumb pick for most of my playing, using a flat pick for a few songs here and there ... but since I've been doing more and more band work that requires some hard driving falt pick work, I've found that I grind my index nail down too much to keep a healthy edge on it. I learned to use my midle finger instead of the index, but I the angle causes me to scratch across the top of the nail more then strike clean, and I have worn that down as well some. Over the last year or so, I've always seemed to be short on index nail, suffering a broken middle nail or struglling to keep a proper fitting thumb pick for guitar and banjo work. So last week I went to my wife's nail lady, and had three fake nails put on. It's worked pretty well. I don't use any picks now, except a flat pick, and the nails work great. It ain't too expensive (I paid 12 bucks, counting a tip) and they oughtta last a month or so ... and they look like my real nails ... so it's not too weird. Anyone else tried this extreme step?