I got my ticket back in late Feb, 2012 and have operated all cw since day one. There's still something about a straight key for me that conjurs up in my mind the true essence of what being a ham is all about. There's no electronic interface, no fooling around...you control every nuance of what goes out on the air, good or bad. Using a straight key forces me to focus on the action, the sound, the results of every motion and at the same time I'm imaging the operator on the other end of the line and how he or she reads my copy. I think the straight key is about as hands-on as you can get in amateur radio, and although my arm and shoulder are killing me, hihi, it was a lot of fun and enhanced my skill as a cw op.

When it was over, I had 37 contacts from 22 states. 

I'll never give up my straight key! 73, Steve