First off, a huge thanks to Ned for hosting all of this in the first place!
About me...I'm 43, born and raised in the Seattle area. Levi's 501's aren't too popular around here, but there is enough diversity in every way, shape and form that anybody who does something cool or looks good in their outfit is happily accepted and maybe even copied.
I found this site in a google search on shrink to fit 501's, actually more to find good prices, but also to learn anything I could about them due to the number of pairs I've bought that I either sized too big or too small, and each one seems to come out of the factory a little different. And I had no idea there were such enthusiastic posts and users explaining about all the very intriguing ways to buy, soak, wash, dry and shrink them. Wow!