My last map project, same thing.

My last patio job was a tiny 8x10 walkway, and I almost gave in to the power trowel just to save my back. But you're right, the hand float just gives you that feel you can't get with a machine. I always end up overworking a corner with the power trowel and leaving a weird swirl mark. The extra time is worth it when you step back and see a perfect, flat finish without any of those machine lines.

Have you ever been on a bus when it gets to use the bus lane? Bus lanes let buses skip past car traffic... so they do speed things up for people riding them. If buses had to sit in every car jam, trips would take way longer. Sure, sometimes buses still get stuck, but overall, the lanes make a big difference. Without them, bus schedules would be a mess during rush hour.