Why Self Publish?

There are different reasons to self publish a book as opposed to traditional publishing. As far as I figure, there are three main reasons:

1 - You have a manuscript that you probably can't get published traditionally, and you're afraid to even query.
2 - You want to keep complete control over the project. That is, you don't want to give up your power to decide the blurb, the cover and everything else.
3 - Your book is designed for a small audience, perhaps for just your family, your book club, your fellow AA members.

1 and 2 apply to me. As great as my books may be, the characters are anthropomorphic dogs. Which may not make the publishers salivate. Even if I can get it publsihed traditionally, there's number 2. I'm a control freak. And completely anal. I don't like the thought of having no input on what the cover should look like. What if they get it wrong? What if it looks ugly? What if they make a stupid mistake like squashing all the text onto the spine, when the second book has an even longer title and will make the spine look ridiculous if they follow with the same design? And what if they don't follow the same design?

You see what I mean?

On the other hand, traditional publishing means you don't have to worry about any of that. Once the book is complete, you can sit back, relax and wait for it to hit the shelves and money to start rolling in while you live the hedonistic, narcissistic lifestyle with someone stood above you all day fanning you and feeding you grapes. Although, even then, you need to hire a second person to run to the store when you run out of grapes...

My point is, everone who self-publishes has their own reason for it. Whats yours?