Commercial v self drafted patterns

Well readers I have nearly finished the above dress pattern, no pics yet.
to show you, besides its raining and so dark in my little cottage at the moment.

I have to say that I am beginning to have a love hate relationship with commercial patterns.   I find that making  up the garment it relatively easy (as was the case with the above pattern), but when it comes to getting the fit right that is what takes up the time.   Thankfully I have a good friend who lives across the road that sorts out the bits that I cant see, or solves problems for me.  My friend has worked in the fashion industry as a garment technologist and sews for herself now and then.  She has never used a commercial pattern in her life, we  have completely different approaches to sewing. She is a godsend and shares her knowledge freely, a real pearl.

Now I have to do a lot of adjustments to get garments the fit me right, I am abit of a perfectionist.  My friend explains that  with the amount of complex alterations I am doing it would be quicker for me to start from scratch, she explains that I am already doing self drafting, when I move dart positions. Then you get the snowball effect, "If I take that in so it fits,  I gapes here", Im sure you know what I mean.   She does  make sense.

Maybe its the excitement of the pattern falling through the letter box, the  lovely illustrations on the front of the packet, then opening that freshly packed pattern that pulls me towards commercial patterns.   Or maybe it's the fun of rumbling through my pattern box and choosing that next project.

One day when I am not in a rush to make something I shall make my draft pieces and test the water properly.  Readers do you feel the same?  Have you taken the plunge and never returned?
I would love to hear your views.