What is your opinion on vertical grips?

I put a vertical grip on my A700 when I used it to shoot track meets since shooting continuous mode while following runners was easier with the grip since I shot only vertically.  I replaced it for sports with the A850 and put a vertical grip on it for the same purpose but took the one off of the A700 since I just shoot various insects with it now and rarely shoot vertically and only shoot single shots.  I have the A77 now and have not bought the vertical grip for it since I have only used it for general purposes with a light zoom wide angle lens.  But track season is coming and I may get the vertical grip for it since I want to try it out there some along with the A850.  So other than lots of continuous vertical shots I really don't need one and it is just extra weight around my neck.  It does look cool though.