SAS actually combines several useful things in one seamless environment : statistics, plotting, ETL, and data management. For any one of those functions, there is some better system (R, R, perl, sql respectively), but integration can be hard. Also, it is a single purchasing decision with a standard product. Plus, a good SAS programmer can build fairly big processes and avoid brain dead IT bureaucracies. Not that I love it, but it's a niche no other single environment serves.