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#11
That it was slow and gave an error message could have been the result of damaged or corrupt system files. Since you've recently formatted and reloaded Win 7 64 bit from the OS DVD those issues should have been corrected. You're also correct that many people don't like the Win 7 imaging tool for various reasons. Personally, I use it every week (along with Macrium) and have never experienced any problems.
You're also correct that a data backup isn't the same as a system image. I do a data backup every evening and a system image every week (or sooner if I make a major change to my computers.) But whether you use the Win 7 imaging tool, Macrium, Paragon, or something else entirely, a system image isn't a nicety ... it's a necessity in this day and age of computing. Especially for getting your machine running in the least amount of time.