Well, Erik, I guess you've never trained with me
, as my first question is "Hi, my name's Colleen...(with inflection implying I'd like to know yours...)". At a seminar I might toss in (if there's a breakfall needed) "you OK with the fall?", or after the first attack "you want that faster?" (I like to start medium intensity and dial up or down as nage prefers when I don't really know my partners).
I guess it's because I really don't care who anyone studies with, unless I actually know the sensei and so might want to send my regards or ask current dojo gossip
As for authenticity attached to lineage, if being a student of O Sensei makes it more 'real', then why do we argue so much over Tomiki vs Yosinkai vs Aikikai vs Iwama vs Ki...yes, they all look different, so which one is really 'real'. I care about what my teacher is teaching, how he is teaching, not who taught him.