Sad thing is that yeah plasters don't do as much backing coat stuff anymore, only 1 builder I work for uses wet plastering all the time and for about 5 years I never had to do much rough work (maybe a wall here and there). So if there isn't much going on then you can't pick up much experience.... and we all had to start somewhere.
Secondly whilst people may not like it. What's wrong with diy? I fix my car/van when I can, do most of my own decorating, things like skirting and architraves. Let's face it we are lucky in a sense no amount of information will gain you the trowel control you get from experience..... most diyers do it once and give up anyway.
But hey we are plasterers, most of us learnt through tough love so there will always be a bit of banter along the way, just no need to get upset by it all lol.
