OK, Reality-twisting moment today. We're remodeling Rand's room and Jeff, a friend of mine and professional HVAC installer, came over to help get his room warmer. He installed a new cold air return vent. While installing the new duct, he asked me to hand him his tape. I reach into his bucket, expecting to find duct tape. Instead I find a roll of something that looks like alumium foil. I comment on this. Jeff tells me that duct tape dries out to quickly and will flake and peel away within a couple of years. Hmm. Of the literally thousands of uses now available for duct tape, apperently actually working with ducts is not one of them. Consider my mind blown.