Well, I used hog casings for one of the test models for this month's TD. Didn't buy a sausage maker though, as all I wanted was to stuff the casing. But I can tell you I won't do that again, at least not willingly - working with the casing wasn't easy, and it was kind of slimy and gross. Not to mention I'm just not a huge ground meat fan - I prefer a slab, thank you!
Saw it on TV once and I agree didn't look fun
What is this "sausage maker" you refer to I would have trouble doing without my meat grinder and sausage stuffer. Sausage making is so easy and addictive, and there are endless types of sausage to make which are usually far better than the "meat byproduct" stuff you get at the grocery store/butcher. Waffles on the other hand are just fancy flap-jacks in my opinion
I would have to agree they would taste much better home made.