On the retail side, knowing several owners of LHBS around, it is one more item they can sell to the new brewer along with some of the other things you eventually find you didn't really need.
That being said I know a few brewers that still use them even though they know they don't need to for every beer. I just use them when oaking or adding fruit, that's it.
I'll bulk age in a purged corny or extended bottling conditioning cold.