First Lord's sample chapters (SPOILERS for FLF sample chapters!)

[DragonFire]

Is there a pragmatic difference?

Yes, because it means that she's aping an aleran social custom, not expressing a personal preference.
Moreover, it means that she'd side with any woman, in a similar situation, assuming she was manifesting as female.

That's not showing a preference for Kitai personally, that's just following the 'custom' regardless of her own opinion, if she has one.

[DragonFire]

We've seen Kitai so some internalized crafting, but has any of it been at Tavi's level?  Would Kitai have survived the duel with TCB at the end of CF? Who knows.  I, for one, don't think Kitai is a better crafter or ever will be.  As JB has stated, genetics are a key contributor to crafting skill and power.  Kitai isn't even human (according to G6) and the only reason she can craft is because of her bond with Tavi.  Hard to understand how she could/should be better at it.

That fight wasn't won on crafting though..it was won on guts and brains.

Personally, I think Kitai could have done all the crafting feats Tavi did. Whether her sword play is at that level is questionable, but I don't think she would have been able to reason out Navaris's weak spot like Tavi did.

[comprex]

Yes, because it means that she's aping an aleran social custom, not expressing a personal preference.

The choice to ape a social custom is de facto a personal preference, no?

Moreover, it means that she'd side with any woman, in a similar situation, assuming she was manifesting as female.

Yes, but she also only manifests to the house of Gaius by preference.   

Given a preference for women and a preference for HoGaius,  there is no difference in net outcome in any conceivable situation, unless Alera changes one of her preferences.

[opc]

Never mind all the theory he's had pummeled into his head.   I mean didn't ANY of his windcrafting academizing include making a windshield?

No one has ever become an expert in physiological activity simply by reading/lecturing.  Consider pilot training...all that classroom time has to be supplemented with simulator and cockpit time.  And still mistakes are made.  He probably knew about windshields, just hasn't practiced how to maintain split focus.

[DragonFire]

The choice to ape a social custom is de facto a personal preference, no?

Not necessarily. Many people pick and choose which customs to follow and which not to.
Note, also, that Alera pretty much stays out of the argument...she appears to find it amusing.
She also says she knows which side she is 'supposed' to be on, which isn't the same as saying that's what she thinks.

Yes, but she only manifests to the house of Gaius by preference.  

Given a preference for women and a preference for HoGaius,  there is no difference in net outcome in any conceivable situation, unless Alera changes one of her preferences.

We can't take her manifestation as a woman as her preference, for all we know, she usually manifests as a man and is doing this for a change.

[opc]

That fight wasn't won on crafting though..it was won on guts and brains.

Agreed, but it was Tavi's internalized crafting that allowed him to survive long enough to find that weakness.  We've read that Tavi's ability to bring multiple craftings (metal, earth, wind) to bear simultaneously is pretty advanced.  Has Kitai done the same?

[kokolores]

We've seen Kitai so some internalized crafting, but has any of it been at Tavi's level?  Would Kitai have survived the duel with TCB at the end of CF? Who knows.  I, for one, don't think Kitai is a better crafter or ever will be.  As JB has stated, genetics are a key contributor to crafting skill and power.  Kitai isn't even human (according to G6) and the only reason she can craft is because of her bond with Tavi.  Hard to understand how she could/should be better at it.

Besides, we know that among the top-notch crafters limits are often mental and not physical. Windcrafting for example is a matter of concentration and something like that should be right up Tavi's alley.

Rather depends upon the nature of the Marat bond, no?

Never mind all the theory he's had pummeled into his head.   I mean didn't ANY of his windcrafting academizing include making a windshield?

No, it doesn't depend on the nature of the bond. At best Kitai should have as much talent as Tavi at attracting furies, and we know for a fact that she's not as driven to master furycraft. That's why it's rather unlikely that she's as good as he is.

Tavi might have sit in on all those lessons about the theory of furycrafting, but that's still no replacement for practical lessons. Some things you have to experience for yourself, before you can appreciate them. A teacher at the academy might have made an offhand comment about it, but Tavi is only human, it's no wonder it didn't stick seeing how he had never experienced any furycraft back then.

[comprex]

See, I read that a bit differently.   Anything Alera does, anytime, relative to humans, is by preference.  

[DragonFire]

Agreed, but it was Tavi's internalized crafting that allowed him to survive long enough to find that weakness.  We've read that Tavi's ability to bring multiple craftings (metal, earth, wind) to bear simultaneously is pretty advanced.  Has Kitai done the same?

Not taht we've seen...but has she been in a situation where it was needed?

[DragonFire]

See, I read that a bit differently.   Anything Alera does, anytime, relative to humans, is by preference.  

THere is a difference to a long term preference...ie always manifesting female and a one off preference...today, I'd like raspberry.

In the case of the Kitai/Tavi fight, I don't think Alera is expressing a preference for one over the other.

And I don't follow you here....when Alera assisted Gaius in PF, that wasn't by preference.