"Coming up with 3 yard confrontations lacks thoughtful meditation". (JG Terry)
It must be nice to live in a 25 yard bubble and never come within 3 yards of other people.
Most of us, even if avoiding bad, high crime areas, still come within 3 yards of other people in day to day society, whether at the gas station, Walmart parking lot, shopping center, working or walking down the street. It's called reality. Most physical attacks / robbery attempts, etc. don't begin at 25 yards. It's up close, fast and ugly, as predators like to pounce where and when we are most vulnerable.
In my opinion, Don's point shooting at watermelons, at close range is FAR more realistic self defense training than what JG Terry opening statement was; "Five aimed shots at 25 yards with 626 Smith loaded with Skeeter Skelton 44 Special loads". Long range shooting is great practice for sure, I do it myself... but don't overlook close range, bad breath, pucker factor training either, as it's more realistic.