German Lager Yeast: Is dry "really" bad?

[Jimbo]

Ok, I hear the part about a 2 gallon starter! (Wow - 20% of the final product as a starter.)

See, that really is my "challenge."

My question tries to sum up the following:

• Effort (multi-stage starter "ramp-up") vs Reward
• Cost (dry) vs LOTS of Cost (liquid vials, DME, yeast nutrient, time)
• Is liquid SO superior to the dry that the difference is "substantial?"

JZ and many others (Fixx, etc) have claimed the pitching rates are vitally important - and I fully agree! So, if I can get the right number of cell/ml with a dry yeast that is SO simple, easy, and cost effective vs the "taste delta" of the "superior" liquid yeast - am I really a loser?

[BrewerJ]

You can make a great beer with 34/70. Give it a try, the difference is small between 34/70 and 830

[Dmac08]

S-189 is a great Dry Lager yeast

If you can find it. You got a source?