Both things(being handled and feeding in a separate tub) would leverage the same type of mental capacity for a conditioned behavior. For someone to say that it is completely not possible for one while the other is possible, is a contradiction. Thats my point.
Now as far as how I have backed up a little bit in this discussion and I made a "Straw man" is because it seems this subject has people who live completely on one side or the other and it is a religious crusade. I would prefer to keep things as a friendly exchange of experiences and thoughts then seem as if I am 100% trashing their thoughts and Ideas on the subject.