I don't like using finger pics. Are they necessary?

[Rob Anderlik]

I'm reading through the responses here and wondering if it might be helpful to differentiate between instruments? For example when it comes to Weissenborn guitar I'd say Fingerpicks are optional but when it comes to dobro I'd say it'd be difficult to play without picks due to the thicker string gauges and higher string tension. Years ago I remember talking with Martin Gross and he told me he started out playing dobro without picks and after a year or more he finally switched to wearing Fingerpicks and noticed positive results almost instantly. If I remember the details correctly he got better tone/more volume but just as important his fingers felt a whole lot better. He told me his fingers used to hurt like hell when he was playing with bare fingers.