[IAmBroom]

> It sounds like a lot of the benefits of “old growth” wood can be manufactured now.

Yes, at greatly increased costs, both economic and ecological.

Fast-growth timber farms may produce an inferior product, but we've already compensated for that in design. 112% of a material that provides 90% of the "goodness" is a viable path; so is buying a Ford* every 5 years instead of a Mercedes every 10*. (Ford haters: :%s/Ford/Chevy) (* MB haters: shaddup, it's just an analogy.)

Until the overhead is lower than growing yellow pine, this is a niche product.