I really have tried using finger picks, but I find it very uncomfortable. I just can't get the feel of the strings that way. I will certainly give those alaska pick a try though!. As for using a thumb pick: I find that I like slack key better with the bare thumb. For me that produces a big fat bassy sound. By contrast, for blues I do like to use a thumb pick to get somewhat more defenition in the bass strings, and to be able to make those nice snarling string snaps.
I've always been crazy but that's kept me from going insane (W.J.)