Please define "success" and how you can attribute such success to a foundationless system. I can say that I do not discriminate based upon whether a practice is standard or non-standard- to do so would be foolish, prohibitive of growth. I am always experimenting with one thing or another, and choose to implement into my regular management techniques that work for me (or more appropriately, things that work for bees under my management). I encourage others to do the same. On the issue of foundationless frames, certainly they can serve a purpose but at the same time I don't use them exclusively. The primary reason I find for going "foundationless" is to cut upfront costs. When I cut a sheet of foundation diagonally and use the resulting two pieces as starter strips in frames I have effectively cut the cost of foundation in half, while at the same time ensuring that at least half of the frame will be drawn out in the cell size that I would like. Unfortunately, as I mentioned it only helps with upfront costs. There are times when the bees will draw bad comb which must be culled- excessive drone or storage comb. That's an opportunity cost as their efforts could have been better focused on other tasks. I feel that those who have tried experimentation and have not achieved the results they had hoped for simply need to accept the fact that sometimes things don't work out and chalk it up to another learning experience, not necessarily a loss. Am I glad I have tried it (foundationless)? Yes. Will I continue to experiment with it? Yes. Is it the "be-all end-all? No. Am I satisfied? I don't know how to answer that. You wrote "consider it a customer satisfaction survey" so I must respond... If you are asking whether or not you should continue to attempt to inspire methods of innovative thinking among beekeepers, I would have to say Please Do, I enjoy reading your posts. If you are asking whether you should continue to promote awareness of the possibility of a foundation-free hive- please do, it inspires the "non-standard" experimentation that may result in innovation. I'm still not going to vote in your poll, so take this post for whatever you make of it.
Ben