I've got what you'd call a "traditional" musical background (traditional in its content if not necessarily the way I actually went about it) and the snobbery that you've talked about so often is something that I've seen too much of.
I'd prefer not to count how many times people have seemed to place more weight on what I lack as far as conservatory/university credentials, etc., than on what I actually *do* know and am capable of. Thankfully, this is something that seems to be fading, rapidly. What you and Spitfire do towards that is absolutely not to be undervalued.
Also excited to hear you want to expand the NYC node. Definitely keeping my eye on that....