Hi,
1. It's often the fastest way to enter certain types of info
2. It's accurate
3. It's powerful
4. It's easy to use.
One example:
You have a column of Salaries running from B2:B5472 and you want to
calculate the bonus (AIG post bailout staff) in C2 enter =B2*0.10 (I probably
should up this number to be more in line with facts). Now instead of copying
the formula down 5000+ rows place your mouse over the fill handle and
double-click. Done.
Suppose you want to enter all the states in the US in column A. Type
Alabama into A1 and drag the fill handle down to row 50. (Oh yes, that
didn't work - actually you have to teach Excel the states first, by adding
them to a custom list, but then this technique will work).
Enter January in A1 and drag the fill handle to the right for 12 columns.
All the months, spelled correctly.
And we have hardly touched the surface.