Who doesnt use a hydrometer?
 

I have not used one since my first batch, ok so I started 6 months ago, but still...

All of the beers I have made have been excellent. I primary ferment for about a week and then secondary for 2-4 weeks depending on the clarity. Bad idea or sound brewing?

I use one when I'm trying out a new recipe or technique but other than that I don't usually use one unless I get a bug up my butt about it.

You'll probably be able to brew like that for a good long time. But look through the "stuck ferment" threads on here and see how often a yeast will just decided to go on vacation. If you get one that stalls out early and you bottle, you'll get bottle grenades going off which is messy and dangerous.

Yeast don't work on your schedule. The only way to know for sure what's going on in there is to take a sample and check gravity.

I take refractometer readings and hydro samples of preboil, OG, and FG for every batch, and I put everything in Beersmith so as to help me modify recipes and accurately reproduce batches that I like.

I should be taking readings at all the important stages like weirdboy, but admittedly I'm lazy about it.

I usually ferment in the primary for 3-6 weeks so unless there's a stuck fermentation (which I have had and identified without the hydrometer) fermentation is definitely done by the time I bottle.

Yea..... I don't use one either. I keep thinking I should, and then not using it. I basically just let everything go way longer than it needs to - never a bottle bomb.

I broke mine, so I haven't for the past few batches that I made. I feel a little bad about it though, since I have no way of knowing my efficiency. It just so happened that my LHBS was out of hydrometers that day (and has been since).

So those of you not using one....are you extract brewers?

I'm somewhat of a perfectionist and like consistency... the only way I can brew the same beer every time is by taking readings... you'd be surprised how much it fluctuates even if you are using the same recipe...

When I was doing extract and PM I never really used mine but I would let it sit in the primary for 3-6 weeks to ensure it was completely done.

Once I moved to AG and looked to cut down the time on the yeast I found that I absolutely needed to take samples. I just like to know my efficiency.

I guess it is just a matter of preference but if you are only leaving it in the primary for 7 days I would suggest using one.