Do modern sticky soled boots merely compensate for the polish aquired over the years. Obviously not true on a first ascent but for most punters repeating stuff, should they shut up bleating about polish and be glad they have new technology to offset it?
Nope, as is really evident on sandstone or limestone. Some of the routes could really easily be climbed in sneakers or flipflops, but now after the holds are so polished even modern climbing shoes slip of quite easily.
In reply to Al Evans: Most polish happened well before sticky boots so I fail to see the clear relationship here (although its clearly not as much fun to do moves on polished rock). The exception would be some limestone crags where the polish can be younger but in a lot of areas few people climb these routes any more.
