[xdude]

When you control more than dozen websites it's better have a control panel. Because you can keep it clean and have less problems. Lets say if you are Web Designer then it's better to have a vps with a hosting control panel because it makes your life easier. cPanel is good if your clients need access to their web hosting accounts. Probably it's the most easy one of use out of all commercial and free web hosting control panels. But if you do all the stuff then you can use a free panel.

I use VirtualMin which I have found really good and reliable. Along with Ubuntu, this combo has given me best free web hosting control panel experience. I haven't mastered it yet but I have learned enough to use it without having any problems.