Neil
I think you hit the nail on the head.
Asking "why" one is adding to ones art is the key question. If your doing it to overcome a perceived or experienced lack then that is one thing. If your just "collecting" then it, perhaps, is less than effective.
Also , as you point out, the arc of training (Depending on what you study) tends to be a phase where you learn everything you can from any source you can get it, then you spend a great deal of time stripping out all the stuff that does not apply to you.
Odd, really, my karate experience is that people get tired of only having a "few" techniques and kata so they add them---only to strip them out again as they mature in their art and realize that they really don't need so many--and there are only so many hours in the day to practice. So they wind up pretty much exactly where they started.
Then when they teach what they know their students decide they need "more" and the cycle starts all over again.
Anyway, good post!
Chris Thomas
"While people are entitled to their illusions, they are not entitled to a limitless enjoyment of them and they are not entitled to impose them upon others."
"Team Cynicism" MVP 2005-2006
Currently on "Injured/Reserve" list due to a scathing Sarcasm pile-up.