I slip down on my butt a LOT less when using poles on steep downhill loose gravel slopes.

I feel a LOT more secure when picking my way down the rocky "stair-step" slopes.

My feet stay a LOT drier when attempting to cross a fallen tree over a stream.

I do find some humor in watching people carrying their poles along, pointing down and forward, but never touching the ground with them. Ditto for the folks who "tap" their pole on the ground every 7 or 8 steps. When I'm using my poles (which is almost all the time now), I use them like a four legged animal would. Animals don't skip using their front legs regularly. It's a regular pattern where all four are used in a defined sequence, left rear working with right front, right rear working with left front (ignoring loping, jumping, and pouncing movements). During steep climbing or descending this rhythm is of course broken as you pick your way through obstacles.

Trekking poles: A big YES from me.