i have tried the trial versions of beersmith, promash, brewers workshop. i have tinkered with the hbd recipator. i have used the brewsmarts website and app that is free and the brew pal iphone app. i like to use them to get rough ideas, but mostly to print out the base recipe that i can take notes on. i still tend to do all my calcs by hand. i guess my question, is what am i missing by not having a software like beersmith or promash?