It was the first device I learned to program on. Part of that was probably the allure of how simple it was to get started on since the device did not give you a bunch of distracting features/apps by default. Amazing what you end up doing when you're bored in school and have the calculator manual with you (and a little "necessity is the mother of all invention" tossed in for apps related to solving equations and such for class).

Graphing calculators are nothing to scoff at, even if they're not considered "modern" by those that wished they had a fancy IPS LCD screen, 2GB of RAM and high powered ARM CPU.

Overpriced? Heck yeah. Overrated and obsolete? Only if one thinks they are.