> is there really something that can be done with macros that can't be done, just as elegantly, with simple state machines My guess would be a C# using block.

> is there really something that can be done with macros that can't be done, just as elegantly, with simple state machines My guess would be a C# using block. I think the Java equivalent is "try with resources" but I don't remember. In Common Lisp it'd be WITH-OPEN-FILE, or a similar macro made on top of UNWIND-PROTECT ... > or object composition style builder pattern comes to mind :)