There was an awesome comment at the end by Stephen Heard: Agreed! Much of the "problem" with P-values comes from them being expected to do too much; they a

There was an awesome comment at the end by Stephen Heard: Agreed! Much of the "problem" with P-values comes from them being expected to do too much; they aren't (for example) indicators of effect size or final proof/disproof of an effect's reality. And careful attention to the P-value can't overcome problems at the earlier steps you lay out here. I would differ in one spot, though: a P-value should not be "the last of these [inferential] steps" but rather closer to the beginning of critical thought! (More about all this here: http://wp.me/p5x2kS-Y.) I like the "p-value should be the beginning of critical though", I'm going to remember that one.