no question about it, i'd go with a high quality herb grinder any day over not having one. breaking up herbs with my fingers or scissors sucks, gets your fingers sticky and takes too much time. grinders are awesome, but, don't get a cheap one and stay away from stupid gimmicks. get something straight forward and simple that works and stick with a reputable brand like sharpstone, space case, or chromium crusher. i've been using the same grinder for a long time now and love it. i especially love dipping into the nice stash of kief that it generates!