I don't know what kind of experience you had at hardware stores, but my frustrations were limited to a lack of availability, otherwise everything was as I expected it.
If people don't trust the experts, such as yourself (and I've seen you on OC), then who are they going to trust? Some guy who recaps what's in the forums? You ought to have written the article the way you wanted to write it.
I'd be more than happy to help out, if you try this again.