Hand piecing is mainly what I do. You listed most of my reasons why but I will say this. Hand work allows you to do a much better job. Your seams are more unifor and those curved pieces go together so much more nicely. I can sit and watch tv while I piece or I can put some in a ziplock and take it to the doctors office(where I know I will be waiting) or just anywhere I go that I might have a chance to get in a little stitching. But, mainly I do it while watching tv. I have gotten all the quilting girls in my group and my sister who has never quilted in her life to hand piece. Even my friend who claims her hands hurt her too bad. It has actually helped her hands. So, YOU GO GIRL. Keep it up!