This article could not have been written to tempt me any more effectively.
'It doesn't cause hyperfocused procrastination, like Adderal or Dexedrine. It's 'deep concentration.' And you can go off it whenever you want! It's a temporary smart pill with no withdrawal symptoms!'
Pros: it's killer for jet lag -- I fly between the US and HK fairly regularly, and suffer extraordinarily from jet lag. Modafinil helps a lot in reseting my internal clock. I also see the deep concentration effect, particularly on a project that I'm avoiding due to the inherent dullitude -- when high, I can power through stuff that I would deflect and ignore.
On the down side, if I forget and drink a beer after taking Modafinil, the hangover is epic. Too, it makes my pee smell really weird. And I have a tendency towards chatterboxery, which is exacerbated beyond all reason.
As people point out above, this is a good thing. Makes counterfeiting that much harder. It would be nice if all drugs came with such signatures of authenticity. ('Remember, real Viagra will cause a little shamrock tattoo to appear under your right armpit for an hour.')
My experience has been that it leaves me drained for a couple of days afterwards, a little like a hangover but without any headache or sickness. It's not a free lunch. As to advantages, primarily modafinil stops me from feeling fatigued during the day, more than anything else; but I can still feel my brain getting tired, making more mistakes. It's just that the urge to take a break, rest, sleep etc. is numbed.
Indeed, I myself have always been quite doubtfull of drugs' effectiveness. I used to attribute success much more to e.g. the discipline to refrain from browsing. This article makes me rethink that.
As for the creativity, I'm not always sure that is a boon. When I encounter a particularly inspiring idea while studying something else, I find my mind wanders off in all directions with creative ideas, where I 'should' be concentrating on task at hand.
'It doesn't cause hyperfocused procrastination, like Adderal or Dexedrine. It's 'deep concentration.' And you can go off it whenever you want! It's a temporary smart pill with no withdrawal symptoms!'
D'oh. "Get behind me, Satan!"