If you race, then you must become skilled at riding in a paceline.
If you don't race, then you are stupid to ride in a paceline.

In my experience, pacelines are the No. 1 cause of preventable bike accidents. Too often you are entrusting your life, or at least your clavicle, to a relative stranger going 25 mph less than a foot from your tire. You wouldn't do that in a car -- why do it on a fragile two-wheeler with no safety equipment? The point of a paceline is to go faster with less effort. But why are you riding a bike? Isn't it for fitness? Do your own work and reap the physical and mental benefits of independent achievement. Being a mooch sucks.