Amen brother. I still think if we focus on our own skills and ambitions, everything will be just fine. I can't worry about if some other musician is transposing or not.
All points expressed here are very valid.
I don't advocate using the transpose, but like some1 said once, 1 might be forced to use itjust because that's what will make the service or event flow at the required standard..(this is understandable considering that sometimes in a 2& half hour servive they could do 20 songs in only 2 or 4 keys at max..so even if 1 wanted to get into the habit of using all the keys in the service, you are not given that chance because 1 key is sung in more than the rest..
) So SisCM, with that as 1 of the reasons, I would advise that you at least know how to use the transpose button in case you might need it, but I'm not calling on you to use it because like Fenix said, you might want to use it for 1 song, but yo end up using it for a decade!!
What I do to counter this [the singing in 1 key throughout service] (especially if I want to give other keys a chance, is start playing some soft music in the background in any key other than the "over-used 1s.."..in the hope that whoever starts a song starts it in that key..)
TMR is also correct. If some1 has played great music , be it they were transposing or not, the bottom line is they played great..
But obviously if they were being assessed at music school, they would have failed, but the point is they are not at music school..
Personally, I feel happy whenever I change keys & actually flow...The moment I press that transpose , then I know I have failed myself, so I try to avoid it by all means...
That is why I practice a few songs in all the keys..& I can see progress..
It is my PERSONAL goal to learn as much theory as I can & never transpose & most importantly, play well & play what moves people in any key..
I'm also aware that it is other musician's GOALS TO avoid playing in other keys & to avoid theory at all costs..
I don't try to impose my views & goals on them...I try to reason once or twice with them, if they don't want to hear of it, I just live & let them live..