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...we can't mention the other puzzle yet, you'll certainly know it but, perhaps, not as I do (and the way it was intended to be read - the noise a crow makes).

drxx, ah, of course! That was a nice one, yes.

Having finally got there, not without assistance gratefully received, I can't wait to find out from Cagey how (s)he went about compiling it. Even working backwards from the final instruction, never mind finding that 4-letter words might evolve, leaves me breathless with admiration. I see where drxx is coming from, and with a numerical imminent I have my quarterly heart-sink coming on, but as a piece of compiling it surely ranks very highly. POTY of course requires more than just awesome construction, and - a bit like Marmite - this one finds contrasting views.

//
As far as this puzzle goes, I wish the setter had taken to heart the message... and spared me the trouble of finding it. //

Honestly, I find messages like this completely unhelpful. So you didn't enjoy it. Imagine being so bitter that you feel a need to throw what's an obvious bit of tongue-in-cheek humour back in the setter's face -- indeed, the quote itself is what inspired Cagey, or so I'm told, to push ahead with this puzzle idea and the "many months" of work to turn it into reality.

Also, I have in mind we'll have argued about this eons ago, when I still was posting under my older account -- but for what it's worth, I only came to Listeners through the numericals, and I suspect I'm not at all unique in that regard, so it's better to be grateful for them than begrudging of their place in the oeuvre. Think of it as a different challenge, and sometimes it's good to be taken out of our comfort zones.

Art is subjective, so clearly there's no obligation to like a given puzzle, but I do think people have a tendency to forget that setters can read criticism and take what is ultimately a personal preference as a reason to be... let's be charitable and say impolite.

It's also a while since I had a Magpie subscription, but surely one numerical a month out of six isn't too many either?

Despite my earlier reservations I did persevere and completed the grid fill and worked out the message....which I don't understand. 😄 It appears clear enough at first sight but as to how I'm supposed to do the first half of it I haven't a scoobie. LOL. Oh well, I'll have a think and try and untangle it before the result is published.

It wasn't designed to be helpful to you, it was a response to michpunk and my way of reiterating my feelings regarding the puzzle. I enjoyed the exchange with michpunk and the lighthearted, polite tone we managed to maintain despite our differences.
I think you should exercise a little more restraint yourself but, if you must be rude, do it on your own account rather than the setter's (and if you're privy to any hurt feelings there, you should keep them to yourself).

I don't see that I've said anything rude, either on my own account or on anyone else's.

Light-hearted banter it may have been meant as, but there's a difference between expressing your own feelings on a puzzle (ie "I didn't like it") and suggesting that someone else's efforts were wasted.

Many thanks drxx. I've now been able to enjoy the beautiful endgame. I'd love to know how that was constructed.

Well I still haven't untangled the further instructions but, thanks to Wikipedia, I now I know far more than I ever needed to about genetic coding!

One interesting (I assume) coincidence is that if you uncode the perimeter letters clockwise, one section is a middle name of someone very closely associated with DNA. 🙂

(Always assuming I haven't got a completely consistent but completely wrong grid fill!).

Dear blackdowner- do you know if Squaring the Circle is available via The Times or other websites? My interest has been piqued and I'd love to have a go!