meh, depends on my mood. it’s just like any other function in traktor, nobody is forcing you to use them (think autogain, snap/quant, predefined loop size, etc).
you can always turn off the phase meter and BPM readings if you don’t want to find yourself looking at those while beatmatching.
I had always used sync, found it completely useless to beatmatch when you use the software. It has about 3 indicators and a very sensitive pitch controller if you set it right. I once tried without the sync button but by looking at the PC screen - matched in 2-3 seconds. Mixing without looking at the screen or any other electronic readings, just by ear, like in the vinyl days would be oldschool mixing - great admiration for people who do it, I couldn’t and don’t want to, there will be no time left for other manipulations.
Im more of a turntablist so If im guna drop a track it needs to be dead on with the 1st beat. Traktor does make this easier as i know the bpm. The performance isnt much easier but the planning is a fuck load easier. mix in a bit of controllerism and there is a pritty fun set. Turntable speeds fluctuate so i find they dont stay in sync. If i play commercial music il just drop a track in wont use sync. Experimental electronic with decks internal or 2 on cdj 2 internal sync all the way. 4 decks in sync for a prolonged period of time of vinyl is near to impossible.
if im using timecode control i dont use the sync, obviously, but i started 11 years ago on vinyl so dont really need to practice beat matching…
Well, since I have my Vestax Spin, I tend to use the sync button more and more, because the pitch isnt really perfect…
But before, I had tt’s and Traktor Scratch Duo and I found that beatmatching was way cooler! 
I never use sync and I recently turned off the beat counters and phase meter to work on my beat matching
[quote=“, post:13, topic:17805”]
no way! I always need my eyes to beat match..
[/quote]If pete tong can do it, you can do it.
+1
Except mine would read something like… “but I started (Ronald Reagan was president) years ago…”
I have fond memories of practicing “speed beat matching” with my best friend… one of us would be on the decks, and we’d just pull a record out of the crate and put it on the platter… no headphones, just drop it and match it. If we couldn’t pitch it, then it was manual spinning… man that was fun.
today, sitting on the couch with a controller and a bunch of classic house tracks on the laptop is really fun with a sync button.. I reserve traditional mixing for when I’m on the turntables… I just don’t see the point in trying to emulate something like that with a controller. Kinda like trying to drive “manual” with an automatic transmission… 
I say do what ever you have more fun with. That’s what it’s all about. If you plan on playing out though, definitely learn how to match a beat. I know of a person who switched up to nothing but controllers and then had to play with no sync. It was trainwreck after trainwreck. You’ll tend to lose a lot of respect among your peers, and only be putting yourself at a disadvantage. If you don’t really care about that stuff though, don’t sweat it and enjoy the technology.
only started using sync since s4 - didn’t really use it with traktor pro. gotta say i love it. don’t miss beat matching at all. played at a house party recently and was able to play drinking games while mixing in tracks with 30 seconds to go on the last track thanks to sync + looping gotta love it!
This
I have trust issues, so I don’t use the sync button. My philosophy is “as little prep work as possible”. If the auto grid is fubar (which I admit it rarely is) the mix goes. So, I don’t use it. I’d rather just stick the track on and do it myself. The beat counter is accurate enough for me (even though it’s not perfect). What can I say, I’m lazy!
I use manual often - usually when I play a gig the dj before me is using cdjs so I manually mix in there. Also if im playing out and come across a new track where the grids are slightly off i revert to manual. Ive got a Xone DX so its not a problem with the jog wheels.
Everything is gridded and hotcued for tight loop and fx quantization. I ride the pitch with DVS (bpm display and phase meter off) but sync the 3rd/4th decks when I use them.
I didn’t like just syncing and pushing buttons on the X1s when most of the time only two tunes are playing together, so I’m pretty happy with that hybrid dvs setup now.
When going all Speedy J/Liebing/Hawtin with loops and tools on all decks, the needles stay off the timecode and it’s sync all the way
I always use sync. Like, always. Unless I’m mixing in on top of another dj, that sync button is firmly mashed down. Yep, nothing like a nice big cup of sync to get the ladies steamy. If djing is the food of life, the sync button is the jam on the toast. Sync button gets me laid. Yep indeed ladies and gentlemen, if there’s something to be learned here, it’s always use sync–you wouldn’t want a surprise poppin out at you later on now would you? Of course not, so make the right choice and use protection. Choose sync.
Perfect state! 
Traktor Scratch DVS DJ here. I love two decks, 2 records, and a mixer and will never tell anyone that this is the only way to do things. Ever.
I used to have an EKS Otus that I’d take to gigs for portability and sync was used heavily. It was awesome.
I’d love to have the Otus again for house parties and gigs that are short on table space. Sync allowed me to do blends that I had thought you’d have to be a DMC champ to achieve.
Here’s a fun trend I’ve noticed: crowds have gotten very used to the idea that DJs can beatmatch quickly (read: sync) these days and are starting to become increasingly bored with DVS DJs taking ages to get the next blend ready.
Refusing to take advantage of sync is in the same tier of ignorance as people coming up on digital rigs not learning how to beatmatch by ear.
Crowds don’t care how you mix your music - edit: maybe some hip hop crowds do but not dance stuff
They do if you’re mixing it badly. 
Yeah agreed but I meant they don’t care what tech you’re using