I personally do not like the idea of using a mixer or outboard gear. The advantages of templates, automation and stored personal presets are so overwhelmingly obvious, to me it doesn't make sense to use hardware.
Mmm...I don't want to turn the OP again...
...but in my case, I look forward to using the hardware.
There IS something to touching the knobs...
...but I also like the "fresh start" aspect, instead of falling back on the presets I used last time in the DAW..etc.
That said...with the hybrid approach, I'm still using the DAW, and any snapshots/automation I need, I do it at the DAW, and then run it all back out through the console...adding outboard as needed.
Yeah...I take notes...but then, I always take notes, even when I track...so it's not a bother.
By breaking up the different portions of the recording process...tracking with tape/console/outboard, Edits, comps, pre-mixing, automation in the DAW, final mixing back out from DAW to console/outboard, tape, and then mastering back in the DAW...
...I don't get glued in front of the computer and spend my entire time ITB.
I dunno...maybe it's just me, but I can't sit endlessly at the computer, staring at the screens. I do that shit at work all day, so being able to get more "hands-on" and having to plug-n-patch hardware, and all that...it just makes it more fun.
My favorite time is tracking...everything else is just about focused work to complete what I did during tracking.