I would agree with you - except for the fact that it does make life a lot easier when you are trying to get a antenna to work and you do not know what is wrong..

With a digital display it is as simple as putting the antenna together on the ground, sticking it on a pole someplace, using a feed line that is as short as possible - less then 1/4 wavelength is desireable when possible - I know at higher frequencies this is hard to do.

Turning on the Analyzer and reading the input.

Using a old style analyzer isn't as simple when you do not know the exact frequency you are tuning to...
So in the long run - I probably saved myself $40 - $50.00

A stub match question I forgot to ask is - should the end of the stub match at 1' 8 inches long be shorted on the end or open...

The web calculator I used said the Stub would be short if it was shorted and would be long if it was not - but that if it was not shorted you run the risk of the stub trying to radiate the power applied...

http://www.qsl.net/va3iul/Impedance_...e_Matching.pdf