I tried the random orbit polishing thing and found the results to be less than thrilling, little squiggly marks and a hazy appearance overall, I think the machines move too fast to get good results.

Somehow I feel that the contemporary community as a whole seems to feel that perfection is desirable/necessary to produce a good image. I much prefer horizontal lines that disappear when properly illuminated. I have found through looking at many 19th century examples, from some of the best makers, that they ALL have polishing lines, some even in a semi-circular orientation from corner to edge. If you illuminate them properly, from the side as with window light, they vanish. No one complains about Whipple, Root, Southworth & Hawes, or Plumbe having polishing lines, even though they are there. Even the original Rev. Levi L. Hill Hillotypes have visible polishing lines when looked at obliquely.