You people are all key components of what makes this a great forum. Thanks for your kind words.
Tim: We all eschew what we believe is true for us and has value for us. Thereby, even though I may not do it much anymore, I will always talk up the worth of underpainting in monochrome because it taught me so much about value and creating a 3d impression on a 2d surface. I think Bill's method is much faster and IMO, better because you start quite loose and refine as you go. However, it also requires that you really understand value and color in order to do it well. I don't believe I would have taken to it so easily if I did not have the experience and understanding gained from the many verdaccio and grisaille underpaintings I have done over the past 4 years.