@Stephen Longshanks first and foremost I want to apologize for sounding so rude myself before. Bad day, bad timing. I know better than to come to forums in a bad mood, but sh*t happens and we move on.
Second, I did read through all but ~5-6 pages near the end before I started to post here. I did notice a tone in CR's voice that corresponds to what you have said. Yes he can be rude, but looking at it from his perspective he spent A LOT of time working on his method and everything involved with it. So for him to be upset when people came along and deviated from his "bible" is understandable, to a point. Did he have to be so mean? Not at all, but again sh*t happens.
Third, I myself have given advice about this method to my guildmates. They questioned me on how I am able to complete GE each week with no troops or goods buildings. I explain it to them in a summary, give them a link to this thread, and tell them not to follow it 100%, and if they have questions about it I will gladly do my best to offer them advice on how to make it work for them and their particular city and playstyle.
This method can be adapted to any Age/Era, as long as you are willing to make it work. Is it truly Heavy Questing if you don't follow CR point by point? That's debatable. I was doing a version of this method long before I came to find this thread, this only solidified my belief that it was a decent strategy to implement, and helped me tweak my own to make it work for me. On 2 of my worlds I swap between a Questing city full of butchers and a Goods production city when I start to fall short. That's adapting. If someone doesn't understand how to do that it's easy enough to explain the reasoning behind it.
The fact remains you and
@sloppyjoeslayer seem bitter about being scolded at by someone who is no longer here. Get over it and move on. Yes his method is very niche, but it can easily be adapted to any playstyle, so long as you have the will to do so.
And now on to SloppyJoe's post, and this applies to Stephen as well.
Yes, some of the players that come here can be "cultish". That is a state of mind that can be difficult to break a person from. They have to make the decision themselves to break free, and we cannot force them into doing so. Comment on what they say, giving your own advice, and if they refuse to listen just ignore them and move on. It's that simple. Eventually they may learn the error of their ways and begin adapting to other things. Some may not. All we can do is plant the seed and leave it at that. If they truly want to break free they have the ability to do so, but some would rather be the follower. Be the leader. Stand up, give advice, and don't get offended when someone doesn't take it.
Play the game how you want, but don't bash on others for how they choose to play, or live their lives.
Oh and "bud" is a term synonymous to "dude" where I grew up. I was not implying we were friends or aquantices or whatever. And Karma is as real for those who believe it, just as real as God is to Christians, Allah to Muslims, Bhudda to Bhuddists, etc. It is a belief one can hold to view the rights and wrongs that happen in the world. I have seen it work day after day, so I am a believer. Does that make me crazy to some? Yeah, but whatever I don't care because I believe it to be true and no one can tell me otherwise. If I come to a time in my life where I stop believing in it, that will be my choice. Get it?