Absolutely, Jack. I am not pushing Nik stuff, though I do like what they are doing. If one is really skilled with PS, then by all means, use that. For me, the Nik stuff presents some options that I can quickly work through, and even use multiple tools, all with the same interface. I have work PS masks and stuff, but honestly, it is not something I enjoy.
Anyway, it is good to see some of these tools that can help some folks get to what they are thinking, or give them a way to experiment more than they might otherwise. PS is still a very powerful tool that most of us will never "master". At times, however, it is a PITA to work in, where some other things, like Aperture, actually do a better job in RAW conversion of some files, and being able to do other stuff like Digital Asset Management also, but that is whole different series of threads ;-) For me, having these Nik tools as Aperture plug-ins is very nice, especially when I am making quick photobooks for clients. I can screw around with things quickly, or do a delicate job also. I still use C1 and PS for a lot of stuff, including most fine art finishing things, but I have not mastered all the layers, masks, blends, and other stuff yet, and am not sure I really want to invest that much more time in some of it, so Nik tools have been a nice addition to the effort. Good to have the options.
LJ