I own a pair of the 10x42s and they are indistinguishable from magic. When you press that button, the wobbly image becomes rock-solid and allows you to perceive and enjoy way more detail than would otherwise be possible.

Perfect for observing birds, planes, double stars, nebulae, satellites, and planets. I can't resolve Saturn's ring, but Jupiter and its moons and the Hercules cluster are not to be missed.

A tripod doesn't solve the same problem. You can walk around, pass these to other people, take it on a hike, use them in a car.

Some downsides: expensive, battery maintenance, and heavy (not as much a problem with smaller pairs.)