Great podcast Tyler!  Very useful information.

I've actually had reasonably good luck with those crap TCMT holders in certain roles.  I use my 1/2" CCMT holder and small nose radius insert to get most of the metal off.  HSS cutting steel is like watching paint dry to me when trying to get a lot of metal off.  The 1/2" CCMT removes a lot of metal fast (for a small lathe).  0.060" cuts are not hard to take with aggressive feed.  Then I switch to the TCMT holder and a nice ground AL finishing insert (TCGT).  They are sharp enough to draw blood when you bump them and they can take 0.005" cuts in steel no problem.  They can also take smaller cuts within reason.  Using those I can knock out the last 0.015" with an acceptable finish and not flex the snot out of the part with the heavy cuts needed for the molded inserts.

I still need practice grinding HSS but I tend to grab my insert tools most often because I usually just want to get a thing made not head up to the grinder, experiment, back to the grinder.  I keep working at it on my down-time though. I know that HSS can provide a better finish on steel.  On aluminum, though my ground inserts do a flat perfect job, no need for me to mess with anything else. 

Here's an example of the results of that TCGT insert:

I should have put that differently.  I know that a well done HSS tool can peel off a ton of metal in a single pass.  The ones I make can't and since I work a lot on larger diameters the low RPM makes even a heavy cut a slow affair to watch take place.  With inserted tools I'm generally working at 750RPM and up even on a 2" part.  That means the rate of advance is a lot faster even at the same inch-per-rev.   The advantages disappear quickly as you get under 1" though

I have seen HSS taking some massive cuts that look like shiny potato peelings rolling off.  My ground tools will not take that for whatever reason and coupled with the slow advance on power-feed means I usually end up just reaching for the insert tool and going on.

Believe me, I'm not claiming that carbide is objectively 'better' for the home shop.  Just that I have been able to find a few combinations  that work well for me.  To get there I did spend a lot of time scratching my head wondering why my part looks like rats gnawed it out.

Thanks for the inspiration.  I was went out and tried again with a 3/8" tool bit.  This time I ommited back-rake which is always where it goes bad for me.  It's an awkward way to hold it with little support and just ground the three clearance angles.  I was able to come in and take .125" DOC but there was chatter getting started there.  0-.090 were nice and clean and I was still able to get a sweet finish dialing in 0.0005" at the end.  Cool.  One more tool in the arsenal and the chips aren't as painful!  :)

Thanks for making the video!