Shortcuts is buggy and difficult to work with, but it is the escape hatch on apple watch that makes the watch usable without also carrying your phone everywhere.

I have a shortcut for captive portals when you want to get on WiFi, a shortcut to dictate a quick search on Kagi (I am working on another for Kagi Assistant) and another to check the trains on the train website. Between these and apple wallet I can leave my phone at home.