Mike, really good stuff there. I forget that skews were under appreciated for a while.
Back in the dark ages (before U-toob). I had a couple unused skews. Somehow, I was exposed to a film showing some old school production turners at work. Talk about inspiration!
Two turning epiphanies I took from that film were the spring loaded drive centers and skew chisels. I remember being shocked by all the work those production turners could get done with just their skews, and from that point on, I was pretty determined to replicate their technique.
I never felt I reached a point of actual expertise, but did become good enough to better utilize the tool.