To each his/her own. My DLC 7 would be either long gone or unused if I had to hand wash it. It's vintage 1980's and has gone throught the dish washer thousands of times I'd guess by this point. Yes, it has developed a crack on the plunger as previouls noted, and I am on the lookout for a replacement bowl, but it's still fully operable and I use it when I need.
Unless you enjoy hand washing stuff -some do I do not - there is no place for "delicate" kitchen equipment. Other than wooden utensils and pasty brushes plus a piece or two of calfilon everything in my kitchen goes in the dishwasher.