Why shooting large format in these times?

[hiend61]

A year ago I began to teach Large Format Photography to small groups of amateur photographers, (from 1 to a maximum of 3). Most of them are medium format users who want to go one steep beyond in image quality, and the least are just curious about large format and want to know more and try a large format camera.
I always introduce them to Large Format Photography showing various samples of prints and transparencies taken with large format gear and explaining with the samples the advantages we all know about Large Format Photography.
In my last workshop one of my students, (One of the just curious about Large Format), asked me why shooting large format today, when the gap in quality between a 36MP full frame SLR digital camera and 4x5 format is very narrow, the offer in film is reducing day by day, there is no color film available for 5x7, the scarce color film available for 8x10 is prohibitive expensive in Europe and the two major lens makers have drastically reduced their Large Format lens portfolio?. Not to mention the slowness of Large Format process in general.
I told him that Large Format helps to concentrate in the image, have a more reflexive approach to the subject, the distinctive aspect of a Large Format image and the pleasure of the process of "making" Large Format images.
Which are your reasons to shot Large Format?

[jp]

I don't need the super detail.

I am very fond of photo history, particularly images and styles from 1890's to 1940's. The equipment used for that is mostly LF (and some MF). It's available and affordable (except for some cult lenses) and fun to make photos with.

[Kevin M Bourque]

When it comes to art, a perfectly valid reason is, "because I feel like it".

[Mark Sawyer]

I tried shooting wet plates in my dslr and found you can only shoot very small plates, and the silver nitrate drippings really mess up the sensor.

[vinny]

It gives me a raging boner every time I open the shutter.

[Mark Stahlke]

When it comes to art, a perfectly valid reason is, "because I feel like it".

When it comes to hobbies, a perfectly valid reason is "because it's fun".

[hiend61]

It gives me a raging boner every time I open the shutter.

Me too

[ShannonG]

I like to shoot LF because it forces one to slow down and contemplate the shot. For me it the ritual of scouting, setting up,composing,loading ,metering,shooting ,processing ,developing and printing. Not to mention the control of movements.

[jnantz]

why not ?

[Daniel Stone]

ALL my equipment I've purchased 2nd hand. None was new.
I sure hope that these folks won't get dissuaded by a (now) more "limited" range of NEW equipment on the market than there was 20yrs ago?! There is scads of used equipment on the worldwide market, and much of it now is quite friendly to the average pocketbook. Unless you're after "rare" brass lenses or the rarer new stuff that still fetches high dollar on the used market, I'd venture to guess that a great 4x5 starter system with 1-2 top tier modern(ish) lenses and 5-10 holders can be put together for less coin than a brand new budget DSLR.

And by budget DSLR I'm thinking $450-600 USD