I have been having alot of trouble getting a decent loaf so far and thought I may do better with a scale, should I get one? Is this really necessary or a waste of money?

I realize this is a very hot topic so please tread lightly here, but here goes....

My wife goes into the kitchen and no matter what she does she putters around and puff....out come madeleines or puff....out come stollens....she putters around and puff out come great cakes and No Problema.  She Never Misses; at least not in the past 20 yrs.  Her father was a pastry chef and he never misses. And they never use scales and they are always so Casual about it.  I would like to work towards that ideal.  Do people know of which I speak?