Hand-planed finished surface?

[Jim Matthews]

I do 80% of my planing with one that's about 9 1/2 inches long.

I do check with a straight edge to verify my results.

Planing a board to flat, straight and parallel takes three planes for me.

[Sam Stephens]

i hate sanding -either ros or by hand -that's how I started w/ planes. If unfinished, then yes, the surface is much higher quality w/ smoother than sandpaper; w/ finish there's no visual difference imo. I try to avoid the tracks/undulations and don't purposefully leave them behind- certainly not a supposedly flat surface like a table top. And I would agree that it's much faster w/ a plane and/or scraper than sandpaper except for squirelly grain which can take a bit more care.