Al,
Your logic frustrates me sometimes
Sometimes I agree and others we are no where close.
Mostly I agree with you here other than the point about tracing bits from others as being "fair enough". I dont want to imply what degree of plagiarizing would be fair enough to you but really? You're ok with that? Where is the artistic creativity you allude to in that? Inspiration and copying are two different things to you and I it seems.
The latter portion of your post I think you've made some good points. There are always any number of reasons one will like or dislike art. For me, I find artistic value in the comp and lighting as much as the details. For work as crisp as berrymans is, I'd expect more details to make up for the lack of character and mood. Not that i'm a rad artist but compared to many works..his are not full of mood or depth.
In particular to my point about the errors was aimed more at the historical details of the scenes depicted are wrong..historically. ie..the Voss piece for example.
Either way I think there is merit in both styles and tastes.
It's the copying that Grinds My Gears
Oh cool painting you have btw. Bet you've spent many an hour enjoy it.