It fills the niche of "pointing device that uses a constant amount of deskspace" in the same way that a trackball does, but differently. Different strokes, different folks.
NGL I was always a fan of TrackPoints for how compact the pointing device was. Also liked the Logitech Trackman Marble for similar reasons. It's kind of cool, though unnecessary, to have a way to get a TrackPoint on a desktop now without being locked to one discontinued Lenovo keyboard.
I'm typing this on a Thinkpad Trackpoint II keyboard and have no idea why I'd want an off keyboard pointing stick. If you want to use a pointing stick why not have it right next to your index finger while you're on the home row? If you want your mouse cursor control to be off of the keyboard, why not use a regular mouse?
I'm on the lookout for a wireless ball mouse. I want to relive the glory days of cleaning out the little cylinders on the inside of the mouse without being constrained by wires.
I am not sure whether I will order one yet (who am I kidding I probably will) but the products I have ordered, the ploopy knob and the trackball have both been great quality and very usable. The knob in particular is very handy size to use alongside a small computer like a Pocket Reform. As others have said, the track point is less useful off the keyboard although it still requires less hand gestures to move like a trackball so I believe for comfort, there is still value. Track points coming back into vogue would be fantastic though, so anything to support that. There is currently someone trying to install a track point into a Pocket Reform. I am surprised no one has tried similar in a framework laptop
I’m using the caps unlocked CU7 every day; that’s how i discovered it : same frustration as yours!
( then i jumped onto otholinear keeb and now I’m not even bothered by apple anymore and run omarchy on a second hand thinkpad. Same excitement as when i got my first powerbook in the early 2000s…)
NGL I was always a fan of TrackPoints for how compact the pointing device was. Also liked the Logitech Trackman Marble for similar reasons. It's kind of cool, though unnecessary, to have a way to get a TrackPoint on a desktop now without being locked to one discontinued Lenovo keyboard.
( then i jumped onto otholinear keeb and now I’m not even bothered by apple anymore and run omarchy on a second hand thinkpad. Same excitement as when i got my first powerbook in the early 2000s…)