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Thomasin,
I do think, that an artist's ego, especially in relationship to his work, if allowed to go on infinitely, would outlast the most adamantine materials.
For many of us who are older and especially figurative artist's, this seeming 'obsession' with materials is the result of wandering in the desert for many years. We had to pick up tiny twigs and branches of information wherever we could find them, libraries, museums, wherever. The internnet has opened up a torrent of information that was heretofore unavailable. Some of us are like kid's in a candy store.
I have to agree that some of of this worrying about longevity and the right color can be obsessive and down right silly. However I do like JUST the right shade of a color, not close, but exact. Alizarin has been an important red in portrait and figurative painting, even though it was known to be somewhat fugitive because of the perfect match to the deep rich wines that are found in the shadows of human skin. It is also a wonderful cheek colorant.
Some of us are more concerned than others about materials, colors and longevity, but the internet and the discussions therein are but a menu to choose from.
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