Dude, chill a little will ya? I'm not slighting you nor ignoring the fact that it takes many years of experience to become a really talented welder. For me, this is a HOBBY, not a career. I'm perfectly happy in my career as a database architect. It may be a hobby, but that doesn't mean that I don't want to learn and get better. However, since it is a hobby and not a career, I would much rather take my time learning (since that's part of the fun), and, since I have X number of dollars that I will allow myself to spend on this hobby, I would rather spend most of it on a decent piece of equipment where I can get my practice and learn, rather than spending a lot of money on training (a little is OK). You and I both know that the real "learning" comes from "doing", not reading a book, watching a video, going to a class, etc. I always take the iterative approach of educate myself a little, then go try it, then educate myself a little more, and try it again. I don't know about you, but I really "learn" after the trying it part.
I understand perfectly what you mean when you say everyone thinks it's easy (and I'm sorry that you have to deal with those sorts of attitudes at work). Every yahoo who creates his first home page and publishes it on the Internet suddenly thinks he's a computer expert. Every bonehead who creates his first Microsoft Access database suddenly thinks he's a database architect and could do my job as an Oracle DBA. Well, he can't. It took me years of hard work to gain the knowledge that I have about my particular specialty, because it's extremely complicated and the minor details matter quite a bit (and of course, the same is true of welding, right?). Experience is definitely the best teacher. But, so what if Mr. "I've created a Microsoft Access database" thinks he's now a database architect? The proof is in the pudding, so to speak. I don't care what he thinks because I know the facts and skills are obvious when the work actually has to be done.
Here's what I'm trying to say. Can anyone weld? Probably. My wife could take a couple of pieces of metal and the $150 FCAW wire-feed welder I have and "weld". But can she weld good? Not a chance! I can't yet either, and I've actually put a little practice time in! Can someone who's created a Microsoft Access database create an Oracle database? Maybe (but probably not). Could they create it correctly? Not a chance! But, can anyone learn to weld? Yes. Can anyone learn to be a database architect? Yes.
All that said, then maybe I should say that want to get good at running beads, not become a welder...<g>
Btw, don't "crawl back in your hole", always speak your mind! With people that matter in your career, just be sure to do it in a professional manner. That way, they'll take you seriously.
Best regards,
Dave