I would not use the Lenz book as a guide to pine care. His info covers Ponderosa pine, pitch pine and other specific species. Care for each is vastly different. Pitch pine can be pruned back to bare branches, ponderosa cannot...Practices common for Japanese Black pine probably can't be literally transferred from instructions on Ponderosa or pitch.
Thank you for bringing up that point. If there is one thing this thread has exposed, it is the fact that care of one pine should not be applied to another. Having said that I guess I should point out what I will and won't be doing:
I don't plan on pursuing a JBP or JWP for a few years. I don't even know where I would start looking for one. I kind of doubt there is a nursery anywhere near me where I could go and buy one.
I do have a mugo already.
I would like to acquire a Scots pine as I know they are workable and I could buy locally. I might even look for a ponderosa as they are also workable. Hey, Harry has at least one so they must be alright.
I own an eastern white pine. I know, I know. It was early on but hey, there is an article out there about them.
So now that you know my bastard list of pine trees, you can see that some of these suggestions are quite appropriate. I definitely feel better about the availability of info out there.