D+B works with shading not texture. There is a big difference. Yes it can work with texture, but I think that one of the reasons that people are confused with the way the technique works is because of the definition given.

D+B, or softlight retouching is used to preserve texture in ways that the stamp tool and /or the healing brush can not possibly achieve. Some will say that if you use the mentioned tools set to lighten or darken only it will achieve the same effect.

...

At my seminar in Vegas last January, a lot of the attendees sort of gasped really loud at the before shots of some of the images I have worked.

Loud and very audible from at least 50 feet away.

Quite amusing really and at the same time quite a eye opener for me. You see, most of the class were already involved with what they called "Hi End Beauty Retouching" or were Photographers in the industry. Their response took me by as much surprise s the images did...

This is not a semantic discussion, so negative brownie points to the first commenter who quotes a dictionary. This is philosophy, so get out your pointy hat.

Can you sense the difference in nuance between "make" and "create"?

I seem to regularly get into discussions about this, and they seem to be accelerating, so I thought I'd poke a pin in it and post this here for open discourse.

IMO, if you are responding to someone else's idea,...