dear schrafinator,
You write:
"I never grew any bottom wisdom teeth. They simply do not exist.
While you may consider it a "loss", I consider it a wonderful adaptation, because I didn't need to get any dental surgery."
Adaptation to dental surgery?
The loss/gain of the wisdom teeth may be the result of a preexisting mechanism that influences gene expression and invokes variation in the human population. For instance, the Alu-sequences in humans may be responsible for differential expression of traits in subpopulations, but may even be responsible for father-son differences.
"When the land mammals which evolved into whales lost their limbs, it was an adaptation to moving through water."
This has never been observed; it is extrapolated (and an unwarranted conclusion) from the fossil record. Besides, according to ToE whales did not loose their limbs but their legs changed into flippers.
Horses used to have many toes, but now they only have one.
Incorrect. They use only one "fingernail" to walk on. (By the way, read Spetner and what he has to say on horse evolution)
The ToE doesn't require constant "additions", so you saying that it does belies your misunderstanding of the Theory.
It may be so that --in your opinion-- evolution does not require constant "additions", but could you than please explain to me how a bacterium became a primate, or --simpler-- how a prokaryote evolved into a eukaryote?
"All the ToE requires is change."
Not entirely true. ToE needs upward change. I do not doubt the existance of variation (=change).
"It might be change that leads to more complexity, or it might be change that leads to less complexity. IT doesn't matter."
Please explain to me why --in your opinion-- it doesn't matter. Of course, it matters whether we find new genes in an organism or whether genes are inactivated. Your statement demonstrates that you do not know the ins and outs of evolution theory and the problems it is facing.
"It all depends upon what the environment selects for and what variability exists within the population."
If there are no new genes/traits which provide adaptive advantage there is nothing to select.
Best wishes,
Peter