I dislike dummies. I dislike the way SiL used to stuff a dummy in her daugher's mouth every time it opened - she had a dummy constantly until about 18m. She didn't speak until just recently, she was too used to just grunting with a dummy in place. I also think they look awful, just awful! I know some people think thumb-suckers look bad, but to me, dummies look worse. They are used to "dumb" a child, to stop the child talking or communicating verbally. Crying is communicating, we should try to solve the problem not shut the child up. I know most people here use dummies when baby just wants to suck, but many out in the world just use it to shut a baby up.
I totally agree with you, RF. From the outset I only gave my DD a dummy when she was going to sleep. Not when she was crying (bbs worked so much better then anyway!) and not when she was lying awake. I left the dummy by her cot and gave it only after she was laid down. By the time she was old enough to ask for it, she knew it was only for when she was going to bed. And I never use it when we're out (motion from the car/pram/carrier puts her to sleep, so I didn't bother introducing something that wasn't needed).

It's not just about preventing the child speaking/speaking clearly either. The dummy actually does stop some facial muscles developing if it's overused. The sucking motion made with the mouth is an easy one and doesn't encourage all of the muscles around the mouth to move (needed for speech and proper chewing, etc).

I am wondering if there would have been a good time when she was a bit younger to get rid of the dummy, but I guess at least she gives it to me in the morning and doesn't always want it in bed, so maybe she'll wean herself off it.