*nodnod* I'm skeptical of technological fixes too. It's just a little too...sexy. And I deeply suspect that postapocalyptic survival is not in fact about the sexy.

when the "farm communities" might have more knowledge of the local ecology, geology, history, etc., as well as more experience in practical survival skills. What works best in one bioregion isn't necessarily a good strategy in a different one.

And THAT is an excellent point.