Whoa some of you people are taking it way too seriously. The DPS parsers are and always have been excellent tools as well as create some FRIENDLY competition in a raid group which results in overall dps increase. I do agree you cant always go by who is number 1 in the group. For example #1 DPS took 16k damage on a coil fight, however #2 took 1k damage in a coil fight. I would still be talking with #1 about trying to pad the meters and not evading damage. It would be a friendly conversation and give the #1 guy something to strive for, being #1 with lower damage taken.

You don't have to get a DPS parser if you don't want to, but honestly if you are running with someone that has one its not a bad idea to ask what your dps is and try a few things to improve it and then ask again. In my raids I don't really care what anyones DPS is as long as they are trying hard to win and the boss is dying. I really would only use it to monitor damage taken and possibly over healing(0-30% overhealing is acceptable).

Just like I tell the guys I raid with, if you get a DPS parser use it for self improvement and don't worry about comparing against the rest of the DPS. For example, a bard is continuously helping with mana return though this does affect his dps. Everyone understands this in my groups and no one hates on said persons damage. On the other hand I have a guy doing close to 300dps which he managed to get that high using a parser for self improvement and he strives to keep it up there since he knows where his peak is. Super friendly dude, he doesn't brag or belittle people as he is only using it to monitor his performance.