In a way, Dave, your session yesterday (it has been too hectic in the office to attend any of the others, alas) reminds me of a conference presentation, with all this related feedback and your responses like the Q&A / discussion time afterward. Perhaps something here may become a model of some sort of academic presentation with ongoing discussion / thinking about an issue, as opposed to the more ordinary 5 minutes or so (if you are lucky!).
To this point, I applaud your setting an example by addressing the positive as well as the challenging comments about this; excellent model of character for not glossing or otherwise spinning everything to come out like a politician who tries to make everything shine. Life is not like that, and your baring yourself for feedback (which is coming, like it or not) reminds me of how those rhizomes may develop, namely in some place not initially expected.
Jeffrey