Parallel Port Interface

Hi,

I'm putting together a small cnc system (Sherline based) and am at
the point where I'm thinking about how to connect the parallel port
to the stepper drivers, limit switches, manual jog controls, etc.

Some schematics that I've found on the web show the step and
direction and other lines directly connected to the parallel port,
others use optoisolators (4N33 for example), others just have pull up
resistors, still others use buffer gates.

Any thoughts? I'm leaning toward optos, because that's what I know,
but what do you guys think? Is it worth the trouble or not?

Thanks

Gary