Comment by tristor

I use a VPN anytime I leave my house (although it's not a commercial "service"), because network-based telemetry is on the rise and companies that offer free WiFi as well as our telcos are basically out to get us. See https://www.wired.com/story/verizon-user-privacy-settings/ as one example.

I don't want to "opt-out" and hope companies actually follow their policies, or assume their policies are sufficient when I "opt-out". So I ensure all of my network traffic is routed through my home no matter where I'm at or which device I'm using, and then from my home I ensure all my network traffic is routed through a business-grade connection that is offered under standard contract terms that preclude the type of fuckery that every ISP in America seems to think is acceptable to do to consumers.

That's why I use a VPN, and I'm pretty sure a lot of people who use a commercial VPN service do it for very similar reasons and don't have the technical know-how or wherewithal to set something like I have up for themselves.