Recovery boards were a gimmick to me, now I carry them every trip

I spent years laughing at guys with traction boards strapped to their roof racks, figured they were just for looks. Then last spring I got stuck in mud near Moab, Utah, buried up to the frame rails after a stupid line choice. My buddy tossed me his set of MaxTrax and I had the rig out in about 20 minutes with zero digging and no winch. Tried the same spot a week later with just my floor mats and a shovel, took me almost 3 hours and I still needed a tow. Bought my own set off Amazon for $140 and now they live in the bed full time. Got me out again this past October in some slick clay outside of Flagstaff that would have ruined my whole day. Anyone else have a piece of gear they mocked before it saved them once? What finally changed your mind?