>I've noted that there seems to be an increasing reliance on the UT as the "first" source of reference.

First, Amen.

Second, I will second Doug's advice- you post a lot of replies to a lot of questions here- I can see how the RTFM questions would start to get old. I got frustrated with this a while back too, and decided that I don't have time for it so I changed my personal policy.

Instead of scanning the messages for any question I could answer, or messages that have not been answered yet, I started to scan specifically for messages that were not likely easy answers, or those in areas that I am particularly interested in.

George there are a few areas of knowledge that not very many people can claim your level of expertise in. Conversely, there are tons of people here that spend less time here than you that can and will happily answer the RTFM questions. If those types of questions start to annoy you, spend your time on questions that interest you, and questions that probably only you can answer correctly. There are lots of people here willing to pick up the slack and might even like the chance to show their stuff.