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Personally, I couldn't get into this one, so I'm forced to agree with the sentiment (but a very well constructed argument all the same}.

I quite agree drxx. Unusually for me the grid staring was minimal and the end game(s) are complete. I have all the down clues sorted out but the across clues are causing me some difficulty. I cannot parse 12,13,14,21,22,24 or 25 - three of which are normal. I don't like some of the definitions within the clues, particularly 23 down.

Just sorted 13a which does 2 things. 12a is now completely baffling me and I now know one of the normal clues.

12 - add a letter to 3rd word for an anagrind [of preceding word + A(merican)].
14 - 3 letters for 'main' and it really is Dec's mate inside outer letters of...

12a, the missing letter is in one of the "minor" words, which I always overlook in clues of this type, which is why it took me bl00dy ages to see it!
I've got everything done now but the parsing of 23d escapes me.

I think 23d is inventions (i.e. untruths) containing 3 letter uni and L for lecturer with the term of funds added at the end. And you are absolutely right about 12a!!

21 Add a letter to the 1st word for the 2 regular letters [inside 1 letter abbrev + 2 letter hesitation].
22 'group' is too loose a def, I think - add letter to 1st word for a 1 letter abbrev + 2 letter abbrev 'lines' also a bit loose + end of ...
24 This is the one I was joking about when I wrote ''Personally I couldn't get into it'' - 'stiff' is slang - and my name is removed... (actually, I enjoyed the puzzle very much}.
25 alternate letters + initial letter of... (and another eviction).

...missed the 'men' out of 25 - the usual 2 letter abbrev.

Yes, thanks drxx. I now have a full grid and all clues successfully parsed. 24 and 25 are quite clever clues when you see them.

Agreed, gitto - especially the one I couldn't get into.