Do affordable data loggers still have place beside premium roast software?

My confusion with affordable data loggers beside premium roast software is that the idea makes sense on paper, but practical execution looks much less clean. The more I ask around, the more I hear opposite conclusions from people who are all experienced. That usually means the answer depends on context more than people admit.

For members here who have worked with affordable data loggers beside premium roast software, what condition makes it useful and what condition makes it mostly noise?