Year old post but, I think it comes down to being one of three types of md'ers.
Type #1, the kind that leaves stuff in the ground because they have been frustrated and disappointed too many times by digging junk and want the hobby to be easy and fun but will probably never really find much real treasure, maybe just enough to make it feel worthwhile. Mostly a once or twice a week md'er, at best.
Type 2#, the kind who detects more than most, digs every signal and refuses to let a target beat him, digs a ton of junk but also is rewarded with good solid finds, often enough to make it look like you could quit your day job to a type #1.
Of course type #1 may never understand the commitment and dedication to the hobby type #2 gives on a regular basis to find and post all of their unique finds on the forums, lol...
I use to fish every chance I got, the entire weekends and any days during the week that I could sneak out in the boat and toss a hook. It didn't matter if I had company or not, I even actually preferred fishing alone. the quiet, peaceful, soulfulness of being one with the water... But because I was out there all the time, I could always find the fish, I knew the environment, the temps, the depths and the baits to use. I knew how to creep up on them, or how to drift the boat over an area and swing back around because I could tell the area was going to produce more bites.
I was a type #2 fisherman, now I'm a type #1 fisherman, don't get out on the water near as much as I used to, fish are harder to locate, second guess myself, it just isn't the same.
I'm trying to take my MD'ing to the next level, trying to be a type #2. I want to dig every signal, fell like my excal is yelling at me to dig them up, lol... I feel like the one I don't dig, will be the treasure I never found! I want to know if the signal is a bottle cap, or a pull tab, if it's a penny, a nickel, a dime or a quarter or a piece of aluminum foil? I don't even care what it is as much as I want to ID it, I want to learn...
Oh yea, almost forgot...
Type #3 is Ron Lord. he's in a class all by himself.
He finds some great chit! I am definitely a fan!