"I think that the views and opinions of the early theologians (I'm not sure church fathers is appropriate) are very valuable and often helpful. However, I don't think they are any more valuable than many of the fine theologians throughout history and should never be thought of as having the same weight as Scripture."
Well, individually, their opinions are certainly less weighty than Scripture. The consensus of their early opinions, however, formed a substantial part of the basis for the determination of the canon of the NT and were of particular importance to the concilliar decisions on the great Christological and Trinitarian questions of the early Church. Scripture, the consensus patrum, the forms and substance of liturgical prayer and concilliar decisions are all interdependent in fulfilling the purpose of The Church which is to assist mankind in theosis and to be valid clearly require the action of the Holy Spirit moving through very large numbers of inspired people. In Orthodoxy we speak of being sanctified/advancing in theosis within a liturgical/Eucharistic community; its not generally an individual pursuit. Indeed, in Orthodoxy individuality in religious belief or practice is believed to be very dangerous except for the most adavnced in theosis because of the ability of the Evil One to appear to the individual as a being of light. In this way it is fundamentally different from Protestantism which is at base individualistic. I think when we all discuss the differences between Orthodoxy (or the Latin Church, some Anglicans, some Lutherans and/or the Oriental Orthodox) and Protestantism it is important to remember this fundamental difference in religious mindset.
Indeed, crucial.