Anne, 
I guess the problem comes with our perception of nipple shields as another
way to separate moms and babies or as one way to get the baby closer to the
actual breastfeeding.

Those of us who use nipple shields find that this is often used as a
transition from bottles (which I feel is more artificial) to breastfeeding.
 My usual case is a baby who has gotten lots of bottles in NICU and is
going home.  Mom has kept up a good milk supply and is meeting baby's needs
with a pump.  But - when she goes home is it easier for her to pump then
bottle feed or use a nipple shield and skip the pumping?  Moms usually are
thrilled to have baby nurse directly from the breast (with a little help
from a "friend") and after a few days have the courage to slowly wean. 
During the weaning baby starts on the shield, when the sucking is going
well and mom hears swallows, she removes the shield and tries to get baby
to nurse directly from the breast.  Have had only one baby take longer than
a week - and he was (is) very neurologically injured during childbirth and
he took 6 weeks (for right breat - he went to left breast much sooner). 
This particular child never did bottle feed well - but he breastfed with a
nipple shield perfectly.  Mom never had a supply problem after he was
discharged.

Jeanette Panchula, BSW, RN, IBCLC
Puerto Rico
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