To compare MP to NP is kind of silly actually. You're talking about comparing their perceived respective levels of committment. Everything MP does it seems is geared towards being RECOGNIZED as one of the greatest drummers around. NP does not care about the recognition factor (although to be appreciated is certainly an added bonus), his personality is such that he is driven to always be better than HE thinks he is. It's not about what others think of his playing, or style, or whatever. That type of dogged committment is almost nearly impossible for most people to pull off. It's like comparing the work ethics and abilities of Jerry Rice, with another NFL legend Tim Brown. Both had great careers and were great receivers, but Rice had a work eithic that was almost impossible to duplicate. NP is that way. He is always looking for ways to improve his ability, and analyzes what he does because he is a very cerebral individual. That doesn't mean that MP is any less talented because he is not cut out of the same cloth as Neil, but his personality is not the same. How do we know what MP does or doesn't do to work on his abiltiy and technique? We don't really. We only know that Neil gets excited about the "journey" and lets people know what he's doing. He likes to talk about the process, and how he thinks he's found another wrinkle, or edge to work at and develop. That's not to say that MP is lazy. Really? lazy? C'mon people!