Manual mode is just another tool in the toolbox. I use M + Auto ISO ( + exp comp) much of the time (this is technically an autoexposure mode since the camera uses the ISO to maintain image brightness). However, there are times I use full manual too. It depends on the circumstance. As long as you understand how your meter actually works (which in my experience really only applies to less than half of the manual mode shooters out there - sorry), you can use this rule of thumb much of the time:

For scenes with varying light levels but constant tonality, an autoexposure mode is often best (even if you have to use it with exposure comp). For scenes with constant light but varying tonalities, then full manual mode is best.

And if that rule doesn't make sense, then you may be one of the people I mentioned who really don't understand the meter works

Now that Chaostrain's poll has been out there a few days, and we have learned that "about" 8-out-of-every-10 Hogs set their camera exposure controls manually, I'm just curious (as Chaostrain was originally) as to "why?" The vast majority of Hogs seem to have/use modern cameras that come with a whole lot more Bells-and-Whistles than my trusty Nikon FM did. It sure seems like the vast majority do "some amount" of computer post-processing on their images, so we must admit that they have no fear/distrust of technology. If they/we follow the recommendation of the on-board light meter in setting the camera's controls, then why restrict ourselves to the "stepped" shutter speeds available in our cameras rather than setting the aperture and letting the camera set "what should be" a more accurate stepless shutter speed to get as close as possible to "optimal exposure?"

Digital photography isn't like shooting "unforgiving chromes" was. But every book/article that I have read on the subject still recommends that we get the digital exposure as close as possible to our optimum. And, granted, tweeking expose of images in PP is one of the easiest things one can do in photography today. So I'm sure that there must be a logical reason to shoot "Full Manual." I just was wondering if someone could articulate for me what that/those reason/s might be as opposed to using Aperture Priority where we still set everything ourselves except the proper "stepless" shutter speed that we cannot manually set.

Manual mode is just another tool in the toolbox. I use M + Auto ISO ( + exp comp) much of the time (this is technically an autoexposure mode since the camera uses the ISO to maintain image brightness). However, there are times I use full manual too. It depends on the circumstance. As long as you understand how your meter actually works (which in my experience really only applies to less than half of the manual mode shooters out there - sorry), you can use this rule of thumb much of the time:

For scenes with varying light levels but constant tonality, an autoexposure mode is often best (even if you have to use it with exposure comp). For scenes with constant light but varying tonalities, then full manual mode is best.

And if that rule doesn't make sense, then you may be one of the people I mentioned who really don't understand the meter works

There are many reasons why I use manual.
1. It's simply easier to use manual than other means for me when the exposure indicated by the meter isn't what I want. Using the EC is much more cumbersome for me.
2. In many cases the light doesn't change but the meter indicating changing light because it see the different in the subject and not the light. Fore example a people with light color shirt vs dark color shirt.
3. As someone already pointed out the if you want to stitch your images you must keep the exposure the same and the best way is to use manual.
4. For multiple flash exposure it's much easier with manual.
5. At times I know what the exposure settings should be for a given scene without consulting the meter.

Got it, Steve. An "old dog" like me never thinks of "Auto ISO" because, I suppose, 30+ years of shooting slides with film Nikons never prepared me for such a thing. Not sure how that might be better for me than letting camera choose a stepless SS rather than a "stepless" ISO, but I can certainly understand how it works for you. OF course, you shoot far more wildlife than this old landscape guy, so getting the exact SS desired is much more important for you. Should I find myself in your shoes out in the field, I'll likely follow your lead. Good tip, thanks.

I followed Steve Perry's tutorial on setting my Nikon in the "Manual" mode with back-button focus and "auto ISO" set to limits that work best for me. This allows me to use the front and rear command wheels to change shutter speed and aperture quickly based on the subject and what I want the image to represent. This is all done while looking through the view finder and not needing to take the camera off the subject or away from my eye as the situation may quickly change.

A big thank you to Steve for being so generous in sharing his experience and deep knowledge of photography!