I started some tomatoes from seed for the first time this year. I think it will delay my first harvest since I usually buy starter plants at the nursery around the end of March. But I got to admit, the seeds were much cheaper.
I usually just plant the seeds outdoors. Mid year 2011, I had ordered some Arkansas Travelers during an after spring sale pretty cheap.
They backordered them. Then finally sent a card saying that the were out of stock and crediting back my account. Imagine my suprize when the spring of 2012 rolled around and they sent me the order, and just charged the sale price!
It was great to have the plants to transplant too, but of course starting your own is still the best.