"there is no actual evidence" that the plates were made out of tin. In my view, there's no "actual evidence" for gold plates either.
"If Joseph was inspired to give his immediate followers something to see and pick up and feel, so be it. I can live with that. The plates are a symbol--what is important is the Book of Mormon itself." That's close to my view. JS created the plates to give his revelation more plausibility.
Mike Ash laughed when I told him that I think one day the only difference between my position and the apologists' will be faith, that is, faith that the BofM is a revelation.
