MMM..."Can a person trade successfully, off the charts alone (most or all other metrics, ie: PR's, 8K's 10K's etc. be damned), IF he knows how to read charts?"
It has worked out well for me and I know 20 others that have made great livings from it...it is a great tool but only one of many...
I study charts for many hours a day every day of the week and have for a long time...to me they work quite well..are there flaws of course like anything in life but it does minimize the risk...