OP: I like the quote about being 'shiny' in your signature. It seems your signature has waited the past couple of years for this topic to be mentioned.
Heh, I never even thought about that quote being in relation to glossy vs. satin but you're right, it looks like my sig has found a thread to call its own!
And, since I do change tag lines from time to time and we don't want some future reader to think we're both insane, this is what @jackwhale was talking about.
I'm not entirely convinced that it is possible to polish a turd. However, if one were to accomplish that feat one would still have a turd, and one all the more noticeable for being shiny.