I think these are great reasons. I am looking forward to reading Part II.
"all the database fields in the world won't allow me to know these people the way a good agent knows them." This is something that has really hit home with the reviewing I'm doing at YA Books Central.
I'm really starting to relate to how an editor must feel--and I don't get nearly as many review copies as they get manuscripts! There are some books I just don't like and some that hit my hot buttons--but it's all MY taste; nothing personal about the book or the author at all. (I hope this makes sense--this should be the topic of its own blog post 
The editor's likes and dislikes are such a big part of the process. If you can work with someone with an inside scoop (an agent) it makes a lot of sense.
Well, that's a good reason to turn to an agent. As for me, I love to market my stuff. I always keep an eye out for someone who might like my work and that's how I've broken into a few places--always through tips and networking but never through personal meeting.
But it would be nice to hand this off to someone else--only if they would be as passionate about my writing as I am. I wonder if there's a person out there that would care as much about it as me?
Thanks for the insight. I am looking forward to your Part II.
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