Generally my standards were a little higher than what autotracing left me with, namely random BCP's all over the place, points not at extrema, rough outlines, etc. I've seen quite a few freeware and T-26 typefaces that were clearly autotraced and left at that. I found it easier and neater to place my points where I wanted them myself. It was like spacing and kerning - I could let a computer algorhythm do what it thought was acceptable and then spend untold amounts of time correcting those seemingly arbitrary decisions, or I could just do it right myself the first time.

Admittedly it has been a little while since I was actively involved in the creation of type, and to be honest I haven't kept pace with what has supplanted the stagnant Fontographer. It was the program that I always used and knew inside and out. Have to say I always liked it and allowed me to do what I needed to do. Excellent drawing tools, better even than Freehand (and of course much better than Illustrator.)I did write them a three page letter with my suggestions on how to improve it about a decade ago. I guess my letter was filed under G as they have never improved the program.

I will have to try your PhotoShop suggestion sometime. I doubt that was even a remote possibility a decade ago though.

Thomas the Tedious Type Tracer