I am a traditional archer and build my own laminated long bows. I have never shot a compound bow, and will not given the opportunity. One thing I have noticed, when shooting with compound archers at 3D matches, is how slow the compound bows really are. A traditional archer will step up to the line, knock his arrow, draw and shoot, and is ready for the next target. A compound archer will step up to the line, fiddle with his arrow getting it out of a holder, fiddle with the arrow getting it knocked just right on the string, and fiddle some more getting the arrow on the arrow rest. They then fiddle with a release gadget of some kind getting it hooked to the string. They will then point the bow skyward and pull as hard as they can to get the bow past the break-over point. They then point the bow towards the target and fiddle some more trying to line up the sights. When they do finally get around to the release, they more often than not score a good shot, but the bow is so noisy, a live animal would have jumped the string. Sometimes a group of compound archers will be very courteous, and let me go ahead.
When shooting a 3D match, I am surprised at how many compound archers have never shot a traditional bow. I always encourage them to shoot mine, and carry an extra finger tab in my pocket for that reason. Consciously, they know there is no break-over point on a traditional bow, but sub-consciously, they expect it to happen. It is fun to watch.
There might be a place for compound bows. But for me, there are few things as beautiful as the arc of a longbow at full draw. Life is too short to shoot anything but a longbow.
