What exactly is appropriate use?  Both the Gridview ahd DetailsView controls
have databinding to some extend.  I can program against the datasource
property without ever using another abstraction

I can extract data from Gridview control programmatically with no problem at
all why not the Detailsview?  You talk about improper use but give no
evidence to support your claims.  

In fact, tell my what possible purpose would the detailsview control  
possibly have without the use of a datasource control.  It seems unatural to
me.  The second item is that you are forcing me into programming
declaratively which is not what I do.   I want to retain some level of
control why tease me with read part of the process and  give me no simple
alternative to the write part of the process.

The point is quite mute and purely academic for my part.  What I have done
is create a custom control which can mimic  both what the detailsview and
formsview controls do and much more.  I just was wondering if I had missed
something and thus the question.

BTW - I do not believe you are entire correct,  I seen some very ugly
implementations that allow what I am talking about.  Including my new custom
control.

Getting back to Appropriate use, where is it specified how these controls
are to be used?  In light of what I see nothing there in the control suggest
your position so I am curious how you arrived at your opinion.--
aaa