What is your opinion on vertical grips?

i had the genuine Sony vgrips on my previous a350 and a850 cameras.  On my a99 now, i don't have it.  I too have been wondering if i want it anymore, ie. not decided yet but leaning on the not necessary side.  We can argue both ways as a vgrip has its pros and cons.  It's good to use when i'm in town but each time i travel far out of town/state, this vgrip is the first thing that i'll unplug and leave at home!!  It's like the camera (even a big a850) instantly loses 1/3 fat and becomes so easy to take traveling.  Otherwise people have to buy an even smaller camera just to take traveling ha ha.  Anyway i already take my a99 out of town on long trips (have enough weight training from previous trips/cameras)... so with/without a vgrip it's going traveling too....