All while growing up I never had a dishwasher, and now as an adult I still have never had one. Washing dishes by hand really isn't all that bad... unless you have a bunch of people over for a dinner, and then you wish you had one. The fact is, I have seen my in-laws soaking, scrubbing pans, pots, plates, forks and what not with gooey or baked on food before they put them in the machine to ensure the food will come off. And even then, I've been there and they had to run some items through again! If you have to go through that anyway, why not just use a little soap and wash them by hand? Seems pointless to me.
I do concur what a few others said in that dishwashing by hand can really dry the hands out, especially in the winter. I guess that's why they make moisturizing lotion.