Digital BW, The Print

...
> Using the "Zone System" up front is hardly manipulation.  What you 
are doing
> is capturing as much information as you can on the film.  How is 
that
> manipulation?
...

No, you are altering your characteristic curve to make it easier to 
get all the information off you negative using traditional techniques.

...
> but...if that less that perfect negative is missing a chunk of 
tonality,
> that could have been captured by taking the time and understanding 
to do it
> right in the first place (yes, I did say "do it right"), there is 
nothing
> you can do, the information is gone.
...

Yeah, and if you miss the shot entirely trying to get it *right* you 
have lost more than just a bit of shadow detail.

...
> Hum.  Well, with "some" level of technical competence you certainly 
increase
> your odds of being able to get a "good" print...
...

no arguement here!  ...so let's leave it at that... in agreement! :)

mark