Yes, I've read that Matloff piece. It was nice reassurance that I wasn't the one crazy person doubting "the Tidy way."

Agreed about aes. I'm sure Wickham et al would redesign it if they could -- and maybe they yet will -- but I doubt I'd like the replacement any better! I used to use lattice but it's gone the way of the dodo. GGformula is at least useful for teaching -- I admit to taking some guilty pleasure in prescribing it, since it uses the formula notation Tidy seeks to get away from!