Certainly I forgive your skepticism; you should see the arguments we soil scientists get into amongst ourselves (there's an old saying that if you put 2 soil scientists into a pit, you get 3 opinions).
Remember that pines are not climax vegetation anywhere on the coastal plain. They are colonizing species, and depend upon fire, or other disturbance, to keep out competing hardwoods. Palynological evidence shows that Oaks and Hickories were the dominant arboreal species on the coastal plain of the Carolinas during the Pleistocene, and dry, sandy uplands are climaxed by Oaks, Hickories, and Dogwood today as well. Indians burned large areas to open up the forest and improve hunting (as well as to make garden space for themselves), and pines came in. Even today, foresters have to burn areas periodically to keep them in pines.
Points taken re the forestry characteristics in your area. I suppose I would need to get with a local East Texas forestry agent to find out why things work a little differently in these "piney" woods. Not being on a coastal plain might have something to do with it, although we don't miss it by much.