Great thread you started longbeard and I know what your implying and I've had this discussion myself with others, some of these folks even earn their living working in the Archery Manufacturer Industry and here's my personal opinion on this subject.
Over the years as Archery has grown in popularity, Archers themselves have given the manufacturers plenty of reasons to go "high tech" as your calling it.
Backing up a bit if I may, I began hunting in 72 with a bow as well as gun. I recall that back then in 72 your choices of bows for the most part were Bear, Bear or Bear..
Choices of arrows were cedar, cedar or cedar with the really hard choice being what fancy color...
Pretty much the same for fletching...feathers, feathers or feathers with again color being the main tough decision. When it came to broadheads much like your bow it was pretty much Bear, Bear or Bear...those big old one's with the insert-able bleeder blades, ...tough decision was 3 or 6 pack as I recall...
Then the Archery boom hit somewhere in the late 80's or so and everyone got interested in the "latest and greatest" band wagon. Along with this over the years our life styles have grown more hectic and fast paced so MANY are looking for that "latest high technology" as you call it that just may make them a better Archer with less practice involved.
I have a tackle box full of gear from the years of Archery. I look at some "relics" that I myself gave a try over the years and when common sense prevails these items were/are no more than gimmicks, in no way did or could they make me a better shooter, hunter or Archer....but as long as someone buys such things the manufacturers will continue to make them and create more of these items.
Now before I get flamed here don't get me wrong, there have been MANY , MANY great technological advancements over the years in my opinion that yes can help make us a better shooter, hunter or help increase the odds of the most humane kill possible.
Broadhead technology has increased leaps and bounds, where would we be today without fiber optic sights. Even a hard core traditional Archer has a hard time proving that mechanical releases can't help improve accuracy for most people.
I personally feel that MANY things on the market are yes "high tech gimmicks", in no way will these items make a person a better shot or hunter while I myself also view certain items as very valuable high tech. advancements.
I also firmly believe that where ANY PERSON makes their mistake is in thinking and believing that high tech gadgets or the latest and greatest can instantly make one a better shot and/or Archer and replaces the need for proper tuning, knowing ones equipment, know one's personal limitations and good old fashion practice, practice & practice.
I personally have bought 2 bows off of a local fellow who every few years when a new model comes out he just has to have it yet he's one that gets his bow out and dust's it off a few weeks before the season and then goes hunting. This same guy hasn't killed a Deer in years but yet he always has to buy the latest & greatest. That's his choice of course and I love these folks....I love to keep them around so I can buy their barely used equipment allowing them to take the financial lose....
As long as these types exist the manufacturers will keep coming out with new products....you can't blame them as I would to. "If you build it they will buy it"....
It's each and every Archers personal choice to decide what equipment he/she TRULY needs to get the job done that he/she is trying to accomplish.
Over they years I've seen some really great trick shots from the likes of Byron Ferguson and Stacey Grosscup to name a few, many mostly done with longbows. Who would I be with my fancy compound bows and sites and stabilizers etc. to tell them that their equipment is out dated and they need some high tech stuff....
I agree with ya, there's plenty of "high tech" gadgets out there...it's up to us to decide what is really for us and makes us the best we can be.
Sorry for the rant, I'll climb down off my soap box now...
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