Insights on Patio Doors

I have some strong opinions andissues with PatioDoors! 
There are basically two types thatyou find in most homes  - eitherSliding Glass Doors orFrench doors
They both present problems dependingon how the surrounding space is designed and used.
The advantage to sliding glass doorsis that they do not open into or out of the space so there isn't anyissue with the door swing taking up space,they also provide a great view, lotsof visibility of the outdoors and allow more light to come into thehome.

One of the major problems with thesedoors is that they may be heavy and hard to slide.  My kids havejerked on the door handles so much that over time they just break off. And, I always break off myfingernails on them!
The glass gets dirty quicklydepending on your location and they may be so tall that you have to geta ladder out to reach the top and clean them completely.
French doors open either in or out ofthe space - thus they take up space on the patio or in the house. They look nice in a traditional home because they look similar to astandard window and blend into the rest of the room's decor.  Theyare also more easily decorated with window treatments that match theroom.

Window treatments on a sliding glassdoor used daily require either vertical blinds or a draw drape that canbe easily moved to the side.

Remember - The bigger the doors themore expensive the window treatments!
The other option is no covering atall which allows easier daily traffic flow, but may not be practicalfor privacy purposes.

I have a lot of trouble with openingand closing patio doors while carrying food and other things out toserve dinner on the patio.  If it is hot and you have the airconditioning running you do not want the door to stand open very longor your power bills will be terrible. I just don't have enough hands and if I need to carry something with two hands, I have to go open the door first, then carry the item out, then go back again and close the door.
If any one knows an inventor with mechanical and computer capabilities - why doesn't someone make a voice activated door opener/closer?? This would be great for sliding glass doors.

Take a look at any of these type patio doors in a home you are considering and plan how you will use them, how much, where are the doors positioned when they are open, and do they need to be covered for privacy?