Originally Posted by
FBinNY
Because it's basically just as easy and free.
Also, for those of us who tour, often to places where self reliance is important, truing on the bike with a popsicle stick and rubber band indicator, beats having to haul another item around.
FWIW, the first wheel I ever had to do more than a minor true on was a side of the road rebuild after crash.
I'm not talking about having to do it on the road out of necessity. But if one has the means to get even a modest truing stand, I cannot imagine why one wouldn't own one. Proper tools serve a purpose, and make life easier. Which is why I wouldn't use a flat-bladed screwdriver to remove a tire, or a hammer to align a dropout, or a pipe wrench to tighten a headset. All things that can be done but...
why?