Seems to me that the problem is with the instructor's personal work ethic, not with the student's abilities. I wouldn't insist he do anything, accomplishments or not, but I *would* wonder why he couldn't do one, and expect him to do a basic syllabus element if he were in fact teaching me.

I have the feeling we'd part company on a lot of stuff, but I like you, so I'll keep snapping at your heels If you saw some of the horrendous things my partner and I tried to execute, you'd run screaming from the thirtysomethings, too.