Jeff, let's be honest here. Theming isn't rocket science, rocket science isn't brain surgery, and brain surgery isn't cutting edge particle physics.

I've heard of thesis, but not this Chris guy. As the two are related I shall hang my hat even more firmly on the theme choices I have made.

As to creating your own theme, I don't think you should. However I do think there a huge scope for creating a project where a selected group of devs can contribute to a single theme to get all the possible features in. Perhaps you could run something like that?