Instant gratification: Or is it about the image?

Bordering on being an almost thirty something I am drawn between two aspects of photography: that of the old school film and/ or paper processes, that takes hours of learning a craft and creating ones own aesthetic versus today's instant gratification where in most instances a photo can be snapped on an ipod, ipad, digital camera; then instantaneously transferred into a processing program to be modified with pre-made actions or cross processing tools, preset frames and then uploaded for that much needed ego stroke when a random comment comes along.

I constantly question whether it is worth learning the 'old school' craft if the 'eye' and 'know how' are already there. Is it best to show off ones style digitally with a few hours of processing or if it should be about the image alone or further still just learning the Chemistry and enjoying the ability to learn something new?

How important is the process?
 Does time really matter, or is photography just about the final image?

Well, the following 'marvels of wonder' have had an enourmous amout of time and effort placed into them.

This work is by Bethany de Forest, a photographer I admire, especially for the hours of work!