Quote Originally Posted by OldClicker
Someone completely new to photography with nothing invested in equipment, knowledge or technique; really has to question the need for the optical viewfinder.
Hardly a "fail" in the least; certainly not an all caps version. Such a question only comes from a lack of knowledge and experience. For the vast majority of photos, the optical viewfinder is much preferred for a multitude of reasons. Probably the most glaring reason among many others is the ridiculously slow AF performance, whether it be via mirror flip or contrast detect.

I agree with Paul. Live View would would make the most sense with a movable screen, because that would allow you to shoot in positions in which you couldn't possibly use a viewfinder (such as overhead or on the ground). For me, a fixed screen Live View is only useful for macro work where you can see a true DoF preview.

An optical viewfinder will always be superior to Live View, so yeah, it's mostly "keeping up with the Jones's." Hopefully articulating screens will make their way onto all brands, but until then, for me, it's gimmicky.