After all this...the wife said the other day "what was that stuff you used to make I really liked"
So I made a batch of corn thinmash and "that's it, THAT'S what I like" 
I mean really? REALLY? I do an all grain corn/rye with toasted oak and peppercorns in it which everyone says is awesome and you like the "quick&dirty" corn/sugar mashbill??? REALLY??? Second, when I built my first still I was 14 and I only had a little blue hardcover book about "making your own alcohol fuel" to go by. Yes my aunt and a couple Uncles ran stills but they lived about 6hr's away and they wouldn't of told me anything anyway because I was a kid. What I did worked...kinda..but I used brass fittings, lead-free paint to paint the inside of the propane tank I used as a still (didn't want a rusty steel still..why I thought to paint it I'll never know, I did know to use lead free paint lol) Basically I made it with what I had on hand and safety was whatever I thought was safe.
Compare that to today with the internet and sites like this, there is no comparison to the safety/quality/ease of manufacture with correct tools&equipment. Completely different mindset on why and how to make homemade likker.
Third, Like I said, I knew a couple aunts/uncles who made stuff, heck making wine and beer at home was illegal then too, but that was it. A bottle of shine showed up at a party and everybody had to try it. (and gag and cough and say how much it burned
) Now, I know a dozen guys who make their own and 4 of them I've met in the last year alone. I now have three guys asking me to build them a still. This is definately becoming mainstream.Fourth, I used to get all giggly when I'd run a batch and hide out in the garage with the door cracked because of the propane burner, concerned with the noise, concerned with the smell, etc. Now..my last two runs I did with the garage door open and me in the doorway in the middle of the afternoon because it was so damn hot out. I'm using electric with my cooling water circulating from the pool.(heats the pool about 1-2* per run) I was on duty Friday night (I'm in the army) and while talking to a couple of military police argued that it is against the law and they argued that making shine is legal as long as you don't sell it, that's why you can buy the airstills at the local brew shops. Whatever, I know it's illegal, but even the cops here are convinced it's not. So now, I won't say I advertise it, but I certainly don't hide it anymore. The downside is, I run low, I make some more, like making bread or jam, it's no longer a "oooh I better sneak around". I don't sell, only make for my own consumption and the "excitement" is gone. It's almost a job instead of a hobby now. "Honey we're getting low on bailey's, can you make some more? Actually we need more whisky too" "Yes dear"
Anyway, been gone a while (it's racing season, I'm too busy to be sitting on the computer for hours on end) thought I'd throw some stuff out there. Or..ramblings from an old fart.
OK, point for her... 
