I don't think of them as strutting peacocks, more like eye candy.
I do both. I have a home gym with a bike, a couple benches, dumbbells and barbell and rebounder and pole. But sometimes I like a change and I go to thre public gym at the YMCA which has a pool and a lot of machines. I still prefer my free weights as opposed to machines, but I do like them for the extra weight they allow me to lift. Makes me feel all powerful.
