...yeah, you definitely want to try playing some of those Pantera lines (not to mention the metal/ska lines) without one. unless you have one long, tough-ass fingernail, fingerpads aren't gonna help you.

plus plectrums are for sound as much as anything else.

which is not to say that some heavy metal bassists don't have terrible technique, or that they don't use all kinds of artificial crutches.

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LEFT side of the bedroom, fool!
What? What?