For most everyday plotting tasks freedom is overrated. What ggplot gives you is unparalleled productivity, combined with a 'grammar of graphics' API that makes

For most everyday plotting tasks freedom is overrated. What ggplot gives you is unparalleled productivity, combined with a 'grammar of graphics' API that makes it very pleasant to specify and experiment with visualizations. It's also easy to make ggplot look publication ready with little effort. If you need something highly customized it can be quite a bit of work, but at least in my experience you almost never do.