Its all relative. When I am at the baseline it certainly feels defensive RELATIVE to being at the net. Not saying ALL baseline play is defensive but I think its safe to say that the net is and has always been considered a more offensive position.
"Hanging out" is not condescending as I used it. Maybe "camped out" is a better term. Doesn't mean you aren't working hard, just not leaving the baseline.
I dont think net play is necessarily superior and today's lack of net play is hard to argue, though I am not sure we can put netplay in a coffin as I am anticipating a resurgence. Nice use of the Geico commercial imagery. 5 gold stars!!
Hey, if I want to give people targets for their passing shots I will
Okay, fair. Perhaps I misread the color of your tone. Allow me to respond with a different perspective.
The three primary dynamics--neutral, offense, and defense--are not necessarily relative to the net, or to the baseline, but relative
to the point being played.
Ostensibly, within the context of higher levels of play, the goal is to win the point. Relying on your opponent to make a mistake is not an effective strategy, meaning; defense is only necessary when being attacked. Both the neutral and the defensive position are relative to the offensive position, but only because they're both required to some degree. What this is all leading up to is this:
the goal during each point is to earn an offensive position and attempt to win the point.
For some, this means advancing into the court and playing a volley. For others, this means dictating play, waiting for an opening, and hitting a winner from the back-court. The net is often considered an offensive position because people are implementing offensive strategies that include the net. What's happened, is that some have taken that to mean that the net is automatically offensive--
but it's not!
There are few worse things than chasing a short ball, hitting it back and seeing your opponent setting up at the baseline with all the time in the world. You're sitting at the net, racquet at the ready, and BAM--you cover the line. You shrug as the CC Pass gently glides over the net, dips into the service box, and bounces out of play for a clean winner. Unless you hit an amazing approach shot, or your opponent is somehow under severe duress, the net can be extremely defensive (to the point where you have to guess).
If you have to guess to defend a shot,
you're in big trouble.
Similarly, if you're rallying from the baseline and you put a weak reply over the net, it only takes about one step forward, and a clean strike, for your baselining opponent to make you guess: does he cross, go down the line, or drop?
You get the point (no pun intended). The three positions--neutral, offense, and defense--are not relative to the net, or even the court, but relative to the point being played, which includes your opponent and all of his attributes.
+$0.02