wow! this thread just seems to be the ever ready battery thread...just goes on & on & on.........
guess i need to comment some more.
myself i enjoy reading articles about brewing but too technical and it loses me. i like to get some knowledge and then hands-on. the deeper science interest me to a point, too techie then i doze....

been brewing ..since the late 90's and am sorta lazy, which has contributed to my stall out as an extract grain brewer for so many years.( ramping up for BIAB)
my evolution in the hobby went from dry yeast sprinkled into the caboy, then re-hydrated; fermented at room temps, then trying to cool it down by water soaked towels. liquid yeast.... controlled temps & !...now i'm back to dry yeast! i still re-hydrate dry yeast....why? I use starters of 2 qts and when i rehydrate the starter seems to propigate sooner. the best part i have very early fermenation usually with in 15-30 minutes after pitching. learning about adding oxygen helped it along too. i do feel that 5-7 minutes of shaking the carboy is almost as good. the oxygen bottle & stone just helps to cut labor & time. in conclusion, rehydrate yeast , starter , oxygen and controlled temps has proven to work for me....i'm no scientist or engineer i just do what works for me.....now if i could just get that DAMN DIY stir plate to work!!...

GD51
