I don't get the dislike of trip planner either - it was a big factor in me upgrading!

Most of the time I just give it a destination and either follow the directions or go my route and use it for the last mile or so. Sometimes I leave it on for miles to go/ETA on journeys I know or simply just to see if it routes me the way I would go based on knowing the roads. But for me, trip planner has a use. I got it to go on a road trip in the US this summer, and there are loads of places we know we want to stop to take a picture, specific places we want to stop and eat and certain roads we want to go on that the Garmin would not route us on.

I agree that it might have limited use for some - including me for a lot of the time, but I think it is a useful feature. One I was prepared to pay money for, and certainly one I'd hate to see be removed.