Have them send you the letters and mail them from a local post office so you keep continuity in your attempt to make your mass market piece look personal

Based on my understanding of FTC regulations, I can't send out mass text messages to people who haven't opted in.  

The doubters and naysayers are just helping you to filter the masses.  

I've listened to a lot of the podcasts talking about yellow letters and the such, but I'm also aware that mass marketing has a very low return rate. 

How long it takes you to develop the necessary skill depends on a) where you started, b) how much you "practice" and c) your personality type.It has taken me, as a Real Estate Professional, a great deal of time to develop the negotiating muscles necessary to confidently assure my buyer clients that we have the best deal possible.  

I'd love to hear thoughts and results from the BP masses with experience.

I believe the idea was originally made popular in real estate by Ron LeGrand in the 80s or early 90s (If you don't know who that is you can ask a kid to use The Google to find him on the Inter-Web for you:) ).Fast forward to recent years and the several services that provide mass produced ones that make the paper look very similar to lined paper you can buy and have elaborate hand written fonts that make the pieces look fairly authentic, at least at first glance.I also think that the looking "personal" aspect has taken a back seat to the hope of sticking out.  

It is like walking down the street and a 6 foot 5 inch muscle bound biker bumps into you and it is clearly his fault and it is followed by you apologizing to him, Right or wrong.... a fight would not end well.

Well if your looking at specific properties in Mass you could go here:http://masslandrecords.com/malr/index.htmYou can then check who the guarantee is and this should give you a good idea who paid cash.

That is what the masses do.