Wow, lot's of passionate bakers on this forum!
I have used bread machines before. In fact, I once borrowed my mother's bread machine for almost 2 years, and then returned it, all without her noticing.
Bread machines do work well, and are convenient, but the crust they make is just aweful! If you just use them to make up the dough, then bake it in a loaf pan or flat sheet, you can get a great loaf!
The bread I made last night was just flour, water, a pinch of yeast, and a pinch of salt. It doesn't require any kneading, but you have to let it sit and rise a long time instead.
I then sprinkled it with corn meal, (I said NO to corn SYRUP, not corn itself!) and baked the dough inside a lidded pot for about 40 minutes. The finished loaf is sort of a cross between sourdough and English toasting bread.
The pot I baked the bread in is the blue thing on the counter behind the loaf.