Quote - But that's what I'm getting at... it's not so much a gallery of finished works as rather a teaching tool.

I don't quite see where you're getting the idea that the Gallery is there to be used as a teaching tool. That may be how YOU use it, which is all well and good, but most people use it to display what they've created. As I said, if someone posts an image there actually asking for Crits in their description area, I'm all for people giving them what they want. If they don't however, people need to keep their crits to themselves. That's my 2 bit's on the subject.

The forums are most certainly the best place to come if you want tips on how to improve an image and folks come here and do just that now. Anyone can attach an image to a post and say, why isn't this doing such and such. The critique forum is for those looking for hard core critiques on their works.

I suppose, what you're really asking for would be a "Beginers Corner"  type forum for beginners to post their images and ask questions in. It would need to be more heavily moderated to keep things civil when newbies get critiscisms they can't handle and react badly and to keep trolls from going there just to feed on the newbies.