Your thoughts on buying from dealers vs. direct?

[AxAxSxS]

I've only bought one pedal direct. The Destroyer from Mark of Black Arts Toneworks. Very much so a cool experience. I also ended up with a t-shirt from his band Myth which is rad. (they're good, check em out) I was more than pleased with how it sounded, looked, everything. It was cool as hell to see the thing develop, get updates about how it was going, just shoot the shit, really enjoyed corresponding with the dude. A personal touch is what we are missing with our walmart supersized society. Having interaction with the craftsman is something you cant put a price on IMO.