Grrr Rubrics

I've created a rubric for my presentation. I have a presentation topic. It's not my best, but I think I'll be able to make a good tutorial project out of it. I hate assessment. I always have. It just doesn't sit well with me. Color me hippie, but there are better ways to see if a person is succeeding. I know that a rubric is much more open that a test might be, but I'd rather just not do it at all. Sink or swim?