What do you think about lampwork presses?

I have bought 7or 8 lampwork presses over the years. I'd been tempted by the beautiful beads produced with them and the lovely and consistent shapes.
I use only one on a very irregular basis....it is lovely and perfect and a shape I couldn't hope to produce without this perfection making devise.
I ran across an interesting new press type tool recently that makes with ease absolutely perfect, absolutely identical spacer beads. I was intrigued, but frankly disheartened by this new doodad. Why bother I wondered....if you need perfection, why not just buy machine made beads.
Once in my art festival booth a customer was humming and hawing about a pair of earrings...when Joe finally asked what the problem was, she said that the tiny squiggles of stringer work on these tiny earrings didn't exactly match... I was flabbergasted and outraged but luckily Joe is much more patient then I am and handled it with grace. I wondered why such a customer would even bother looking at handmade art jewelry. Isn't the joy of art knowing that it was made by a real person, a person who put their heart and soul into the piece for you enjoyment?
So, you lampworkers out there, you designers and artists....what are your thoughts about this? Now I know some people need that consistency to be happy, but do we really want to strive for a machine made look?

Teaching Advanced/Intermediate Lampwork Class

Well its official!
I will be teaching my first lampwork class in raised floral designs in Indianapolis Indiana. This class will be held October 2011. Its a long way off, but if you are interested you can contact the Indiana Society of Lampwork and Glass Artists or islaga.org for more information.

New beads for spring on my website!

It hasn't exactly gotten spring like here yet, but I am hopeful that it is just around the corner now....aren't you?!