My problem with dovetails is most of my projects are hurry up quick types of things. I rarely am able to sit down and plan out building something, obtaining plans and then going about doing building it.
Usually my projects are we need a this or that quick. Or Dad I need you to build me a ____ for one of kids room quick. Or hey this just broke can you fix it or build another one?
Dovetail joints were used to pull joints tight without glue. Then they became a sign of "quality" or "craftsmanship" both of which may or may not be true today do to CNC machines and various jigs and such.
In today's world there are better methods to assemble projects and far superior glues (compared to when dovetails were commonly used) so there is very little need of dove tails as such.
Now this is my opinion. Dovetails can be used to showcase your "craftsmanship". But I believe that only happens when you hand cut them. If you do them on a jig all your doing is adding what I call bling or glitz. I just don't like it, again that is my opinion.
My wife dragged me out furnture shopping the other day and the salesman kept pointing out the "dovetail" drawers. It was true they drawers were dovetailed and the fit was perfect (they were done of CNC machine) however the quality of the piece was junk. Cardboard backs, cardboard drawer bottoms and they used a punky wood put together haphazardly when it couldn't be readily seen. So what did the dovetails do? Nothing other than perhaps convince a unsuspecting person to think this was a quality piece.
As far as tools needed to do quality dovetails you can spend what you want and some where there will always be a better mouse trap. It is almost like fishing lures, most that are on the market today are aimed more at catching fisherman than fish.
What is really needed to cut quality dovetails is time (which I rarely have) patience (another quality if don't possess) and skill (compared to some skill I have seen in the pictures of projects some of you guys have done is mine is miminal
). My use of dovetails is limited to projects that simply won't work without them and since I'm aware of my lack of time, patience and skill I tend to avoid them.