I have generally agreed with you, PoppaGator, but this:

>I didn't really get over it until I started to try making barre chords -- they're impossible unless >you're ready to allow the fingerboard to face straight out in front of you where you can't see it.

Is just plain wrong--If the fingerboard is pointed straight out in front of you, you are really limiting what you can do with those barre chords, in addition to putting way too much stress on your wrists--