Percieved Exertion vs. Heart Rate

I'm starting a training plan next week. This plan uses zone training in 5 zones (actually it's eight zones with the subzones of zone 5).

These zones are based on percentages of Lactic Threshold Heart Rate, but also give guidelines for a scale of Rate of Percieved Exertion. I understand the concept of the Lactic Threshhold and the Lactic Threshold Heart Rate and how a heart rate monitor cna be used to help control which zone you are in. I also can 'get' the idea of using RPE to figure out which zone you are in and adjust your effort accordingly.

I'm curious if the more serious racers out there have some advise/experience with these two techniques of gauging your zone.

Here's what I think based on the research I've done so far on the pros and cons of each:

RPE-Rate of PErcieved Exersion

PROS:
-Don't need to buy anything or strap any more doo-dads to my bike (this is a BIG plus for me)
-Less distractions allow me to focus more on riding and enjoy what I'm doing
-I'm probably smart enough to handle this one

CONS:
-Not as precise (not sure I'd be able to distinguish between the sub zones of zone 5 at ALL)
-Not as reliable



Heart Rate Monitor

PROS:
-Precise and accurate
-Reliable

CONS:
-More crap on my bike
-more distractions
-Something new to have to learn and I'm pretty sure I'm not smart enough to figure out all the various bells and whistles
-Somehting else I need to buy

Those are my thoughts so far... what are y'all's thoughts?

If you have ever ridden with a HRM, you will quickly see that how you feel has very little to do with your heart rate. You can feel like hammered poop and you heart rate will still be low. On the other hand you can feel great and when you look at your pulse it is 170 (very common with races). I don't think you can judge a zone based on how your "feel". I know we did it for years, but the first real tool cycling got to put science to racing was HRM. Now we have power meters which brings even more data in. The "how I feel" training method is a couple generations old.

Matt, thanks for the insight! Ill chat you up for advise on monitors at the ride tomorrow.