hehe... Thanks. I need words of encouragement sometimes. I feel down about the quality of my work, but know that I will improve.
I use a recess to try and get the deepest bowl I can without parting. If I grip a tenon my chuck leaves marks and I can't use it as a foot. I would prefer to grip the foot of a bowl and clean it up afterwards with a donut chuck. I guess making a donut chuck is my next project. I would really like the longsworth chuck though.
Probably the best reason for choosing how to mount the piece, tenon or recess, is whether or not you're buying expensive wood or turning something from a log you picked up along the roadside. I noticed that you said both pieces were from wood you bought at woodcraft. Their stuff is always pricey. Good reason to learn to get the most out of a piece of wood.
