Absolutely stever, this was by no means meant to be an "anti hydrometer" thread.
I am neither anal, nor overloaded with time, so it seems unneccesary to me.
As I stated, I take a few tablespoons to taste when I think it is done. What kind of brewer would I be after 30 or so batches if I could not tell that a batch was way off by taste, especially when the main culprit would be too much sweetness?
Another plus on bottling. It makes you wait at least a week or two for carbing . I have seen many threads on short cutting the already fast process of keg carbing. No doubt to drink it only a day or two after being born(ie: out of the fermenter)
Also you don't think the early brewers had hydrometers do you? nope, they just drank it and went.. wow, I feel funny! Either way, you do what you want, it's your beer, but for me, I want to know every damn detail I can about this beer and log it.