Only ever gone on the LoTW its awful, real qsl cards please not thin bits of printed paper. Dont know of any "hams" in the north of england using this for QSL's. Lets hope the big dx-expeditions keep to real qsl cards!!
Andy.. You plainly know nothing about LoTW, which does not produce QSL cards. It's a secure logging system to provide confirmation for ARRL awards - in particular DXCC. The vast majority of serious DXers use LoTW.
Like most others I like to have "the paper" There are many "serious" dxers wont don't want to use LOTW or do DXCC etc - but like to collect for their own happiness. If LOTW doesn't produce QSL's its useless for those people. It does seem that most DXpeditons do still give out cards - thankfully
Yes, I understand that, Ken. Personally I don't like QSL cards but will always respond immediately to any received. I love LoTW because the very few "cards" I now need don't have to be risked in the snail mail! Hi!
Absolutely, Ken, agree 100%. Electronics hava advantages tho'. A few months ago I worked a new DXCC counter. Within an hour the logs were on LoTW and within a few hours I had it credited to my DXCC. They also uploaded to eQSL so i was able to print myself a card too. About an hour ago I worked TN5SN on 6m and already his logs are on eQSL so I could print a card if I wanted one. I might be an but this modern technology seems to me to beat snail mail. Hi! I wonder how many cards are lost in the buro, or $$$ "lost" in direct QSLing? All fun tho'.
A few thoughts. As A92IO I upload to both LoTW and eQSL every few days. I also appreciate receiving confirmations in return. I would also be happy if all LoTW users also uploaded to eQSL for those who like a piece of paper at least until the real thing arrives in the post. I think the greatest value of LoTW is the avoidance of a need for card checking. Unless this is done at an event (rally or hamfest) one has to trust one's valuable cards to the postal service, something I don't really like doing. Avoiding the need for posting is a real bonus if you are also a 160m DXer since all top-band QSLs have to be checked by ARRL HQ. So in summary LoTW gets DXCC, WAS and VUCC entries confirmed without the need for card checking or posting cards, eQSL provides a piece of paper in the short term and is also of use with WAZ confirmations. Lastly I like an old fashioned card in the post as the final element in the QSL process. 73s
As a ham who was QRT from 1983 to January 2011, I have found the new(ish) methods of exchanging QSLs interesting and have been uploading to eQSL (automatic via HRD), and LOTW (semi automatic on a monthly basis). My observations are that eQSL is good for general QSOs but would still use bureau for the real DX or special calls. I just wish that their website would be modernised, and abilities to download selective QSOs e.g. those QSLs received, in a manner to automatically update the HRD log. I wish more amateurs would use their own card designs rather than those templated. It is the diversity of cards on my wall which is of interest to me. LOTW is unwieldy and as it doesn't provide QSL cards as such is only useful for award hunters. As for the bureau, I am developing a system to extract specific QSO records from my log database and overprint a design of my own with the information thus reducing the tedium of completing them manually. I will however sign them personally.
but this modern technology seems to me to beat snail mail. Hi! I wonder how many cards are lost in the buro, or $$$ "lost" in direct QSLing? All fun tho'. 
