Oh, I know what it's for in theory, I've just never seen the point of it. I've never had a problem getting started after breaking traction, if worse comes to worse, I just reverse down and attack the obstacle again.
Hill brake hold switches are fine, but again, I've been off roading for 15 years and I have never found myself thinking, "If only I had a button that would hold the brakes on, or allow me to start the car in gear." I just don't understand the need for all these off road gizmos and computers. I've found that the less computer intrusion the better. I will almost always put the vehicle in 4Low just to disable the VDC and ABS because they cause more problems than they solve. Just after getting the X I got down into some deep snow and the VDC kicked in - I lost all power because the computer kept cutting power and I couldn't disable the system while it was working. I ended up having to put the clutch in to keep the engine from stalling; now I was stopped with a pile of snow pushed up to the hood, not a good situation. Fortunately, I was able to engage the locker and rock the X back and forth enough to get out, but it was very dicey.
I've had lots of occasions where electronic systems got in the way, but I can't think of a single time when the computer saved my ass.