Thanks so much everyone for your comments, they are greatly appreciated. Couple things:

(1) @ProfJibboo: I love 20 Years Later. Just because I don't mention something in my summary blurbs about these shows doesn't mean I disliked it. It does mean that I didn't think it was an especially noteworthy version, but in any event, I agree with you about it fitting "seamlessly between DWD and Carini..."

(2) @westbrook: It's very tough for me to rate one 3.0 Slave over another. They really all seem to be in the same ballpark, but I say this having never listened to all of them back to back... so perhaps I'd agree with you about 12/30 being above avg for 3.0. But I strongly stand by my comment that the 12/30 Slave is "ok." I love Slave and love to get it and loved to get it at the show (for those for whom it matters, I was fortunate enough to attend 12/28 and 12/30 this year). By calling it "ok," I simply meant it was "average great" to my ears. It was fine. There are a ton of "Slaves" I would sooner recommend. See the jam chart, especially the versions in the mid to late 1990s.

(3) @AlbanyYEM: I cannot get enough of the 2012 Dick's run. I listen to its jams regularly. They all have "four or five stars" in my iTunes. Maybe not weekly, but at least a few a month at this point. As for dissecting them a la my ancient YEM, Mike's Groove, and Tweezer reviews, I just don't do that anymore. I might make an exception at some point, but I doubt it. I think if I undertake a review like that of anything any time soon, it will be the 9/3/2011 Dick's Tweezer, and then maybe the 12/28/2012 Tweezer (so people can then understand why I think there is some "miss" in it, I guess, and call me a deaf idiot).

(4) @waxbanks and @spaced: excellent comments you two. I agree that by urging newer fans to check out the versions on the jam charts, it might fast-forward them into becoming pseudo-jaded vets at an earlier stage that they might otherwise become such vets. Because, quite frankly, virtually every experienced Phish fan eventually comes to appreciate certain Phish songs and types of jams more, or less, than others. As human, we can't help but prioritize what we like and prefer, and I have yet to meet anyone who listens regularly to Phish who loves ALL Phish unconditionally at ALL times. It seems that everyone at least has their own personal "TTE," in other words. I actually know a vet who doesn't like Tweezer, but loves Walfredo. WALFREDO!!!

Anyway, I guess my only point is that it's inevitable that anyone who loves Phish's music enough to discuss it on a website is going to become a vet in relatively short order, even if they have only attended a single show, and only listened to a handful of complete shows start to finish. And even the crustiest, grey-hairded, jaded of vets often make "noob" errors in entertaining ways, like yelling "MAZE!!!" when Bowie's hi-hat intro begins, or yelling "FUCKERPANTS!" on the opening notes of BDTNL (they're wicked close intros!).

I actually think its ridiculous that anyone continues to find being called a "noob" insulting, because it's the most wonderful type of fan to be. I envy Phish's newest fans so, so much, and often consciously try to aspire to their fresh perspectives at shows. I for one enjoy pretending at a show that I'm hearing "YEM" for the very first time, like when I fell in love with the song in fall 1988. Or was it early 1989. Something like that. Anyway what was I saying? Oh yeah, we're all noobs when it comes to something, and I continue to learn about Phish's music and still make errors that I made in 1994 now and then.