I only have 3 first year plants, and only 2 of them produced any cones. I only harvested ~6 ounces (fresh, undried), but I can already can see how it will be tedious when the plants mature. However, I enjoy gardening and I'll try to keep in mind the end product.
On a positive note, a co-worker just handed me a bag of hop she harvested from her plant (unknown variety, but it certainly has a good citrusy aroma). She only grows it for decoration, so the fact that she harvested them and gave them to me is pretty cool! I didn't dare ask when she harvested them, how long have they just been sitting around in a plastic bag or why she only gave them to me after lunch. I shoved them in the freezer at work and will deal with them when I get home, but they still have a good deal of aroma coming off them and should still be ok for bittering.