Bardic Music Question?

[D&D Geek]

Does the Bard recieve the benefits of their own bardic music ability, (Inspire Courage, Competents, and Greatness??

In the PH it says ALLIES, isn't the bard his own ally? Intrested on your thoughts, and how you've played this in your campaigns.

 

[Crothian]

This is an area of some debate. The sage has said the clerics are their own ally in regards to some clerics spells. Personally, we allow bards to be their own Ally. It's a favrible ruling that has only helped and never made the class overly powerful.

 

[bensei]

This becomes interesting, if someone switches sides in the middle of a battle (perhaps because of Dominate Person).

But aside from this I agree that the whole party is inspired by inspire courage.

Of course (IMHO) a bard can inspire competence in himself - as long as it makes sense (some open points: Can a bard inspire competence in himself to get a +2 bonus on his perform check?)

With inspire greatness this is not completely clear, since the PHB speaks about "inspire greatness in another person" (I hope I remember this correctly). Is the bard another person from his point of view?
If the answer is no, then can he inspire greatness in another person and himself after 12th level?