Boots are indeed an adventure! Since most of them are crafted to the individual foot, and the type of leather that is used can be a bit daunting, as well as the stitchery (yep, I like the idea of hidden stitches), I can believe in the apprenticeship. Of course, I'm not your average joe, so i can be my own apprentice. Heck, it's only taken me three tries to make a decent loaf of bread by hand... Boots are at least as tough.