Kai, as someone who hates expending effort that might not be necessary, I've been trying to decide if conditioning is something I should undertake. Of course, I should just try it and see for myself, but I'd like to know what specific benefits you've found from it.
not kai, but frankly denny, I was as skeptical (and as lazy) as you are and really did not want to try it. just try it once and see if you like it.
Reluctantly, about 6 weeks ago, I gave it a test, and while I was doing the 'spray-spray-spray' then 'stir-stir-stir' I was cursing a bit (maybe even at kai, I can't remember
![Wink ;)](http://www.homebrewersassociation.org/forum/Smileys/default/wink.gif)
) and swore I would never do it again.
then I saw the crush - most beautiful crush I'd ever seen and almost no flour left on my mill. then I saw how quickly the runoff cleaned up during vorlauf. then I saw how fast the runoffs came out into the kettle.
I've since done this on 3 other brews though I have only tasted one - can't say that there is any improvement in taste (the one I've tasted is my dortmunder, which would be hard to improve
![Grin ;D](http://www.homebrewersassociation.org/forum/Smileys/default/grin.gif)
) but the ease of the milling and lautering makes me 'buy into' the extra effort. Seems like from a time aspect, I make up for it in the runoff times.