I thought the exact same way as you did, right up to the point when we installed the Harman pellet insert. I cut, split, stacked, hauled and cleaned up after cordwood for 16 years. Now I fill up the pellet stove once in the morning and once at night. I empty the ash pan once a week. I completely clean it once a month. It also heats my 2500 square foot 1972 house much more evenly. Also, from a “green” point of view, the pellets come from a factory within 30 miles from my house. I have also cut my heating oil usage by 2/3.
The pellet stove is very efficient too(rated at 85%). I used to clean my flue 2x a season. I checked it a week or so ago. Nothing. I had a pretty good wood stove too, A Jotul 3. It was supposed to be about 75% efficient. It was not big enough though.
My neighbor has an auto pellet stove & loves it.
All the work to get firewood is therapeutic in so many ways, more than just physically and mentally. As I’m 70, I’ll be doing it as long as I can as part of staying in shape.
We have a $4k “Fireplace Extraordinaire” fireplace (not insert) designed for our 4,700 sq. ft. log home (15 years now):
http://fireplacex.com/ProductGuide/ProductDetail.aspx?modelsku=98500104
with the 24ct. gold plated doors in the lower left pic.
As house floor plan (3 story) is very open, ceiling fans circulate the heat throughout the house, and a special duct system with blower pulls heat from the peak of the Great Room ceiling (highest point of house, where heat would collect) and then distributes it throughout the lowest level (fireplace on middle level).
Woodbin to right of fireplace on huge stone fireplace is a totally concealed “Woodwaiter” that lowers to the lower level where wood can be brought in, bin filled, and then raised to mid-level next to fireplace. Similar to this:
http://www.woodwaiter.com/en/about