Opinions (in luthierie as in the rest of life) , are based on observation, and analysis of these observations.

The problem with formulating opinions about individual components in a guitar is that no luthier would ever have the time to conduct the extensive research which would be necessary to transform a personal opinion into a provable fact, so all opinions uttered by luthiers no matter how eminent, should be treated as personal opinions, nothing more.

In the case of solid versus kerfed linings which I mentioned above, I would have no problem with Mr Apollonio saying that he preferred solid linings because he felt that to his ears they made for a better sounding guitar. Maybe for him they do. Many luthiers would agree. Many wouldn't.

But you can't just state baldly that "kerfed linings absorb sound". That is simply not true, and might give the impression to potential guitar buyers reading it that a guitar with kerfed linings is somehow not going to fulfil its potential.

Murray