Since Dawnguard, I have yet to get a character up to 100 smithing. I always put the perks in so I can try out the new weapons, and get the armor, but it seems like a waste of perks if I can get them in the game anyway. Will I be able to get a set of dragonscale armor, and dragonbone weapons at a high level if I don't craft them? I would much rather sink the perks into alchemy than smithing for this character.

I was once level 67 and I had only ever found one pair of dragonscale boots in a boss chamber. Since then I have always invested in smithing.

If you want a set you will have to craft them yourself, it is probably worth the perk for the arrows anyway.

Haven't found any dragonscale armor, had to make them myself.

Man, I never have enough perks for the characters I want. I hate perks.

after over 180 hours, ive yet to find any daedric, and only found a dragonbone helm.

Dungeon jump at high levels through the boss chambers, or just wait until a room respawns. It'll take a while no matter what you do but at least know that you can do it.

You would do well to upgrade your smithing to 100. You'll be able to make weaponry and armor that far exceeds the quality of the items you'll find in your adventures. Furthermore, you should drive your enchanting skills to 100 as well, so that you can dual enchant your items, and also enchant items that will contribute to your smithing abilities. Finally, get Alchemy to 100, so that you can make potions that maximally support your smithing efforts.

I have one time found a pair of Dragonscale Gloves with an insane 40% Marksman boost, but apart from that, nothing in 250 hours of playing.

My boyfriend's character is level sixty-something and when he was playing Dawnguard, quite a lot of enemies in the Soul Cairn dropped dragonbone weapons. No dragonscale or dragonplate armor that I know of, though.

I do recommend putting some perks into smithing - if you don't intend to make your own stuff, then at least on heavy armour side up to ebony smithing. You'll be able to better upgrade the stuff you find. You also don't need to waste your time on practicing too much if you don't want to - there's one skilled trainer in Whiterun and one in Riften, just set aside some money and use them to up your skill quickly (at least while still at lower levels in smithing).