Curtis Wilcox writes:
"I think the question I have is, "Is 'yanking our chains' a negative thing
for you?" You mention Hitchcock so I suspect not but your use of the phrase
and the lab technician thing sounds like you might be critical."
 
No, chain yanking is not necessarily negative--almost all directors do it
to one extent or another, some (like QT and Hitchcock) more overtly (and
therefore more honestly, I think) than others.  It's like being in a
game of "Gothca!".
 
--Don Larsson, Mankato State U., MN