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I have several electronic gizmos that get only occasional use but when I need them, nothing else will do or do as well. My cell phone gets used, on the average, once a month. I got it for emergencies when I'm away from the house, especially when I travel. I carry a little audio recorder in my purse. It also rarely gets used. It's handy when on a trip and I get a thought I want to remember but it's not practical to write down while driving. I can operate it with my thumb without taking my eyes off the road. My cell phone has the same function but I would have to turn it on and dig through a few layers of menus to get to the recorder function. The audio recorder is safer and easier. I carry a small camera in my purse. It's great for the occasional "wish I had a camera" moments. It also makes a great portable scanner. A camera phone would be less convenient since I would have to turn the thing on (I keep my cell phone turned off until I'm ready to use it) and the picture quality isn't as good. I just dropped $275 to upgrade the camera from the antique I was carrying to a newer one that has image stabilization (how many camera phones have that?) since the old hands aren't as steady as they used to be. It has many other improved features (more pixels and zoom, for example) that are nice but they weren't the reason for the upgrade (I had to get one that nice to be able to get one that used AA batteries). The lighted magifier and flashlight in my purse rarely get used but when I do need them, nothing else will do.
My JBL gets used only a few times a month (at home, I read from my TV screen), but it's there in my purse when I do need something to occupy my mind when having to wait for something (something that is essential since I have ADHD). It's also great for when I travel and to eliminate all the manuals I used to have to lug around in my purse (it even has my address/phone book on it in case my phone dies).
Just because something doesn't get used often doesn't mean we shouldn't have them.
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