accufitgolf I think we'll have to agree to disagree on this one. (But you're wrong. š)
I have been without my rangefinder since I had it stolen last year. I am much slower now than I used to be (though far from slow) because I now have to
1) look for a marker: If I'm lucky, I'll be able to see the 100/150 marker embedded in the fairway from where my ball is (and I do watch for yardage markers as I'm walking to my ball), but often I'll have to go for a short walk to find it or look for a sprinkler head, which may or may not be marked.
2) round the marker off to where my ball is and calculate" how far back or forward from it I am
3) add or subtract a yardage depending on whether the pin is forward, centre, or back, which also requires doing a quick estimation of the depth of the green and a quick calculation/guess on how much I need add or subtract from the distance (as I understand how watches work, this calculation needs to be made with them each and every time, too, doesn't it?).
Now that's slow. Even worse, it's inaccurate. I am not hitting near the number of shots tight that I once did, and I attribute that directly to not having a really accurate distance to the pin all the time. With a rangefinder, I walk to my ball, lift my rangefinder to my eye, and immediately have an exact measurement to the pin. Now, a watch may be quicker, but it's not as accurate. Close enough, I guess, but you could still be off by a few yards. (And, again, as I have said, I don't like wearing a watch when playing, so the watch is out. The fact that it doesn't bother others or I might get used to it is really irrelevant.)
But even more the point, I'm not sure why a watch would even be quicker. It's true that if you are the shortest off the tee and the next hitter has to walk ahead on your line, then your group may have to wait the 10 seconds (or less) for you to take the measurement. But chances are the group is (or should be) simply walking to their balls. Your setup time isn't affecting them at all. And if you're not the first away, by the time it's your turn, you've already shot the distance and you're waiting to hit.
What is taking your partners with rangefinders so long? Are you playing with JB Holmes? If so, not only hasn't he taken his measurement, but he probably hasn't even put his glove on yet. But that's a different story.