I looked back over that thread, which was largely me posting. I did use differing values on various props. I don't know what values exactly but I can tell by looking at the images that they were not identical values. But the shader structure, by which I mean the selection of nodes and their particular interconnections, is the same in all examples.

The parameters that control various node behaviors are always going to be adjustable. When you look at a shader there is always some latitude in what values to use. For me, the particular range of values I stay within is always motivated by physics and the reproduction or simulation of real-world materials. But in a material like jade, the real world admits to a truly wide range of values when examining the subsurface characteristics. On the other hand, the surface or "specular" behavior is very much the same as almost all other materials and should stay within plausible values for the Fresnel effect.

---

Renderosity forum reply notifications are wonky. If I read a follow-up in a thread, but I don't myself reply, then notifications no longer happen AT ALL on that thread. So if I seem to be ignoring a question, that's why. (Updated September 23, 2019)