I reckon its the lazy way out personally. I would kill to have instant long dreads but I really want to live the experience. Right now I have short dreads, I cant wait til the day when my dreads are long and I look back at my photos of my short hair and think "wow". I like doing things the hardway though so I have been told ;)

I don't see any problem with extensions. Most of the people who want long dreads on a whim have dread falls. As for the people who don't, have you considered the people who extend their dreads with their own previous set that they cut, or with their friend's old set? Could you fairly call that any less heartfelt? And all extensions do is add length. They still require care and love, just like the hair growing from your head.

Sub culture or not, it's just hair. Dreads mean different things to different people. Fashion for one person might be just as important as spirituality to the next. Happiness is paramount. Heartfelt journey is optional.

interesting opinion Laa... hadent really thought of that, guess i was thinking more along the line of synthetics .

i dont see anything wrong with real or fake extensions. to me they are just that, an extension of you hair having no affect on the symbolism(if any) of your dreads.
davids example is touching though =)

extensions are a corny way of wanting to APPEAR to have the real thing.