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Isn't there a way to mix んですか/なんですか with the informality of の? Could I do something like this: 本当にそんなに厚い本を一日で読んだなんの？ To mean "You really read a book that thick in one day?"
I am thinking ん だい is a little different but can't put my finger on why...

Aren't they just formal and informal versions of the same thing? I think of そうなの and wonder what's going on grammatically myself...

A user noted that this page lacked all the basic usages of the particle. The most basic form..N1のN2 ..where N1 adds information to N2 - not sure how to describe that succinctly. Would love ideas. As for others, I have cross-referenced all of this, but I would love to hear if it is clear enough.

1. N1 の N2   -N1 is a general noun, N2 is usually a name of someone/something that is the same as N1
example: 店員のけいこさん, 子供のけんたくん

2. N1のN1 - N2's N1 (shows possession)

3. Adjective+の - used to abbreviate after the noun has been mentioned.
赤い花 --> 赤いの (the red one)
頑丈な机 --> 頑丈なの (the sturdy one)

The big missing one is where it just..adds information.
アメリカの大学、木の椅子、etc.. 新潟での祭り

valymer's usage notes are very good... another very simple one is simply "possessive" or " 's " - even when adding information, the second noun still is in some way belonging to the first...

Ok, I have added several new meanings. I have (under your username) also moved several chunks of valymer's explanations up into the main areas as usage notes, so you retain credit.

what about when an adjective is used after the の? For example 質のいい製品 or something like that... don't remember if that's somewhere else or not, but I'd feel that would go along with the last usage

Does it always follow the pattern of [N]の[Adj] [N], and can it always/usually be replaced (not in that sentence, but if it were standalone, and not a modifying clause of a noun?

it's usually in the context of a phrase that would usually take が but then the noun/adjective clause is followed by a noun, if that's what you're referring to...

Added, stuck a few examples showing the comparison between が and の

For the 3rd meaning, (C which/whose A is B. C's A is B. Used as a relative clause to describe C) can you also use な-Adjs?

For the grammar point "The A one" I think the なの construction for なadjectives is quite misleading as in most cases な and い-adjectives only take の.

黒いカバンがある。ピンクのもある。(17.3 million google hits)Generally not ピンクなのもある (165k Google hits) as the grammar would suggest.

I wonder if anyone has a better source than Genki 1, chapter 10 to base this on and could perhaps clarify the grammar description?

I can show that it is optional

What about the の that follows other particles? As in
友達からの手紙 --- a letter from my friend
東京までの切符 --- a ticket to Tokyo
母へのプレゼント --- a present for my mother
Wouldn't that belong to this topic, too? Or is it in a different section?

Sorry to bother. I just got started reading through the grammar section, so I don't know if it appears somewhere else on the site.

I would say, it falls under meaning #5 on the page. I will adjust the page today or tomorrow to reflect the additional information. Thanks!

Edit: it's up!