The only practicality to a FG is simplicity. For me, it's about the feel of the bike. It's hard to describe, but it's hard to step of the FG and on to a Freewheel bike and not feel weirded out. That's not to say they're the best things ever. I'd never mtb with a fixed hub. I wouldn't want to do some of the mountain road rides I do with a FG, but there are just times when it's a great bike.