eh, its probably hard to learn for some. beginners hands are stiff and tense, amount of force directed to tips is rather pathetic, so they write it off. thats bad technique. like riding a bike, once u learn, u don't even think that ur balancing on just two thin wheels. but for a beginner, its not kewl at all. i've been using chopsticks since i was a kid. you have to hold them correctly or else you have no leverage. i can without strain pickup a drumstick. the versitility beats forks and knives for a ll foods you can eat without cutting. its truely a hand extention, useful in cooking etc. but hard to learn for some. esp if your holding it all wrong.