Could Someone Please Explain the Benefits of a Stir Plate?

[beernutz]

I built one which worked reasonably well for almost two years but the stirbar seemed to rattle all the time no matter how I adjusted the speed. Earlier this year I had some discretionary funds fall into my lap so I spent just over $80 (including shipping from Australia) for this bad boy from digitalhomebrew:

It is whisper quiet with excellent speed control plus SWMBO thinks its cute which is important since I run it in the kitchen. I built a small wood deck which surrounds it to safely set my 5L Erlynmeyer flask on although that is probably unnecessary. I had a 5L flask (containing 3L of starter) break when it fell off a running dryer when using my DIY stir plate so I'm paranoid about how I treat my flasks after that mess.

No I don't need a stir plate to brew just like I don't need a brew stand, PID gas value and pumps controller, fermentation freezer, keezer and all manner of other brewing things I've accumulated. However, I wanted all of them and they all serve a purpose including the stir plate. I long ago stopped thinking I was in this hobby to save money.

Don't all commercial breweries use either stir plates or shaker tables?