head stock / tail stock alignment

[Roger Chandler]

I'm somewhat new to turning and can understand the alignment issue when the tail stock is up close. But as you start working with longer spindles how much does it really matter? How would you even measure it with the tail stock 1 or more feet back? How does the misalignment manifest itself in use?

If the tailstock center is not in alignment then you have a different plane instead of the same one, and you end up with an elliptical,not true round shape, at least on one end.