Inkscape is an open source program similar to The Gimp, Open Office, or Linux OS. In other words, it's free. Although some people equate free software with crappy software, this is not neccessarily the case. I use Adobe Photoshop and Corel Draw for 98% of what I do, but for simply converting raster to vector there is no program with a better trace feature than Inkscape, in my opinion.
There is nothing wrong with open source software and using it doesn't make you a hack. It's just another tool in your arsenal to get the job done quickly and precisely. And although you won't necessarily get the support for Inkscape that you would for a program with corporate funding such as Adobe or Corel products, it's still powerful, costs nothing, and is worth having at your disposal. Be resourceful and give it a try. You have nothing to lose.