[Avodah] is mayim acharonim a chumra?

[Micha Berger]

Wouldn't this conversation be much simpler if we stated by defining
"chumrah"?

Is it a pesaq that is more chamur (eg BY chalaq) -- mandatory, but
toughter than others;
a minhag (eg glatt);
or a hanhagah (glatt as observed by a Litvak, a brisker chumrah, etc...)?

A second recurring theme this touches on is defining the difference
between baseline vs chumrah and qulah vs baseline. RMF's teshuvos WRT
"chalav hacompanies" appear to my ignorant eye (despite repeated Avodah
discussions) to conflict with eachother on this point.

Tosafos take common practice and back it with a pesaq. Did they mean that
it was a qulah, but better to rely on a basline of washing, or that this
was the actual din, and for an Ashkenazi to wash mayim acharonim would
be stam a hanhagah.

Tir'u baTov!
-Micha

-- 
Micha Berger             Today is the 26th day, which is
micha at aishdas.org        3 weeks and 5 days in/toward the omer.
http://www.aishdas.org   Hod sheb'Netzach: When is domination or taking
Fax: (270) 514-1507         control just a way of abandoning one's self?