I'm pretty sure Clark is suggesting that a human should drive the decision / engineering process. Tim, are you suggesting that a computer should do the work?
Setting up a 2d FEA can be difficult for the novice, but it will likely not tell you how to set up te joinery, just what forces up need to contain with the joinery. Which then needs its own analysis.
Also, I envision your iPad sitting next to your boring machine.
