Aw, guys let's stay friends.
I did ask for honesty, so people who admit that they are poking tail holes in diapers, I appreciate you posting.
I really did not want to crate train either, which is partly why I waited so long to resort to this, but I'm hoping he will be in the crate for just a few hours a day until he gets it. He can sleep in the same spot on my couch for a few hours, so I don't think he's suffering terribly (though sometimes he sure makes it sound that way!).
Let's all try to assume that we're doing the best by our dogs, and the dogs wearing diapers are happy and the dogs who are crated are happy. We as owners are the best judges of that.