The pumping lemma is cool, but the Myhill-Nerode theorem is more powerful (as someone mentioned). I think, too, that what was meant by 'contrived' was that the

The pumping lemma is cool, but the Myhill-Nerode theorem is more powerful (as someone mentioned). I think, too, that what was meant by 'contrived' was that the pumping lemma is not really an equation. But you don't get hits if you talk about the top ten theorems CS geeks should know...