Quote Originally Posted by Xaqaria
I have to ask, where are you all getting your information? I'm open to the ideas but it all sounds untested and unfalsifiable. The first thing that comes to mind whenever I hear people making claims like the ones in here is, "how do you know?"
You mean, "How do you know that people from the random internet sites you're getting your information from aren't just making shit up?" We really, really don't. If it makes you feel better, they're all plagiarizing each other.

I agree with Specialis, though. Stones are used to focus intent. It's less important what the general consensus is than the properties that you ascribe to the stone as an individual.

Quote Originally Posted by Specialis Sapientia
Personally, I think the stones are not magical in any way. They are just used to focus the intent of the consciousness that uses them as a tool.
This.

Why pay big bucks for these stones
Because they're pretty and I like collecting them.