The partial capo has been the only other option, and it is a better solution than tunings. I first developed this idea and published my Duck Soup Guitar book in 1982.

You really can strum full-sounding chords and play a lot of good songs with just 1 or 2 fingers. You can just pop a capo on any guitar and start strumming, which is what we want.

It has been the best shortcut available, but it has the same problems as open tunings. You are limited in the chord changes you can play. My wife can only use it to play 1 of the 29 songs in my book in the right key for her voice. Just like tunings, most of the basic chords have extra or missing notes, and an unfamiliar sound. Hank Williams songs just don't sound right. It's a huge drawback to not be able play in the keys that women and children sing in.