Since we started using TD for our games, when someone plays for the first time with it (we have semi-regular players, as well as our regulars), there are always lots of comments about it! (as well as my ASMs, since we were using dice chips previous to that). Stuff like "crazy", "hardcore", "serious", "friggin awesome", etc
Can't wait to see the reaction to the Copags I have on the way (and soon some KEMs and Dal Negros). Oh, and the Egyptians octagons and plaques - I didn't tell the guys, I want to surprise them
We used to just use the timer on someone's watch, occasionally forgetting to put the blinds up after a longer hand, forgetting to restart the timer, etc etc. We're all pretty laid back and slack ourselves, but TD just makes things go nice and smooth. No worries about stuff, or having to check your watch to tell someone how much time is left - it's there for all to see.
Especially helps when lots of beer is involved
Before I did (too much) research on this sort of thing, we did end up using "proper" denoms for the chips when we switched from just going by number of chips, all equal to 1. I think it was something like T25k to start, and 100/500/1000/5000. That probably came from TV or something - I never watched poker on television myself until well after I was playing a lot with them.
I don't think I could deal with weird denoms like the OP has to deal with, without freaking out
