My first tree job was in 1992. It was a company that had passed to a third generation. The grandkids hadn't learned anything new since the old man died. I was taught to climb on arborplex (okay, they learned one or two things) tied into a bowline-on-a-bight with a tautline on the tail. They recommended I consider buying a rock saddle for comfort. I never heard of a footlock prussik (though I was required to prove I could footlock unsecured to get the job) or a safety lanyard.
The work we did was all flush cuts, but they knew that was a loaded term so they called them conventional cuts. We painted every cut on every species with roofing tar. We installed drains at the base of cavities.
My second tree job was about a year later. We made collar cuts and generally followed the advice of Shigo regarding tree care, but I still climbed on a rock saddle for a year or so. They finally talked me into using a lanyard after a few months. I bought my first tree saddle (and helmet) to compete in 94. That competition included a demo by Rip and Ken that opened my eyes to split tails, blake's hitches, slacktenders, and a host of other ideas that I didn't fully absorb till I had some time on the first few.
Today I climbed on NE Safety Blue, tied in on a VT, but I used a natural crotch and even made a few cuts with a pole saw. I'm like Jimmy in that I will sometimes drag up my tail and double-crotch on it (though I usually carry an extra VT for that purpose), but more often I just use my super-long, KMIII lanyard as my backup. It's double-ended so I can use it like two ends of a rope with a lanyard. I adjust it with a hitch, not a gadget, but the cord is 5mm NE TechCord.
I still see old school practices all the time. I do think new school is much more entrenched generally than when I started, but there are some die-hard holdouts--like someone said, more likely in rural areas.
As for holier-than-thou, I think that started when Cain killed Abel. Someone has always been convinced they were better than everyone else. Like others said here, I have been accused of being too old school by modern climbers and I've been mocked by old-schoolers for all the bells and whistles I use now. My strategy is to work the way I work and let them say what they want.
k
