It wouldn't surprise me if some of the "do's" and "don'ts" are there to ensure that the beginning homebrewer has the best chance of a successful start.
Some "conventional wisdom" has, for the most part, been refuted by experiments and new approaches. When I started (just about a year ago), I was taken aback by the complication that fly sparging appears to present. Now you can do batch sparge or even no sparge, and still get great beer. But at the time, I found this all to be somewhat complicated. New jargon (sparge, strike, mash tun, liquor, refractometer, hydrometer, and there are about 88 more), complicated process, water adjustments, PH, heck, there is a ton of stuff to learn.
That's why I like it, by the way: the challenge to understand and brew what I hope is great beer.
But if I were helping someone start out, I'd simplify a lot: here, use this water, do this in your mash tun, boil like so, and so on. I'd try to get them through the process in a way where they aren't having to make a ton of decisions, any one of which SEEMS like it could be a mistake if done wrong.
I know--now--that homebrewing is more forgiving than it appears, but when starting out, who knows or believes that?
So I celebrate Palmer for being one of the guys who's helped this all move forward. Next time, Mr. Palmer, I have a beer I'll hoist one in your honor. And no policing involved.
