Well let's see.... I have one scanner in the living room, three in the computer room, one in the bedroom, one down the basement, one in the car, plus a hand held one....

Yet it's NOT a habit ! lol

This past Dec. when we had the worst ice storm in a century and it crippled the whole North Central part of Massachusetts.... that hand held one was a life saver....

Having a portable radio was no help at all because all the local AM & FM stations had no generators and were off the air....
The hand held, working on battery power, it allowed me to hear everything that was going on in the area... what roads were closed, shelters open, progress being made etc etc.
Everything I needed to know I got from the hand held....

I'd like to see someone come out with a crank scanner !