I quite enjoy the alchemy skill and I was wondering what everyone else thinks of it. I find alchemy to be useful, but I don't really use it, save for pure alchemy characters.

See, I role play. Each game, each character, is a little different. So, for me, the question is not what "I" do, It's what "my character" does.

If using Alchemy is appropriate to the character I'm playing right now we do Alchemy; if using Alchemy is not appropriate to the character I'm playing right now we do not do Alchemy. Some of my characters (often mages) do Alchemy, some of my characters (often warriors) never touch Alchemy. Some do a little Alchemy, some do a lot. It all depends on the character.

That is, in a nutshell, what role playing is all about to me.

I agree with this.

I really like the alchemy skill. I just think that in Vanilla Skyrim the choice of effects to an ingredient was done poorly. You come with an utmost rare ingredient (Daedra Heart), yet a very common ingredient or two can replace it completely. It nullifies the need for a rare ingredient. Sometimes I just sell expensive ingredients and get myself the common ones instead.