Good examples of many situations where a tripod is useful. But I can see the other side too, and I agree that a tripod can be a nuisance. That's why I own several.

I keep my main, relatively lightweight tripod in my pickup under the rear seat, so I always have it when I go out. I keep a similar one in the house.

I have a couple of old rock-solid Husky tripods from the '70s or '80s that weigh more than I do, but they're great for astro, pixel-shift, or any other work where a steady camera is a must.

And for times when I really don't want to lug around a big tripod, I still have two options: a small tabletop (rock-top, fence-top) tripod that fits in my extra lens pouch alongside an extra lens; and my favorite item for many situations, a trekking pole with a ball head.

Unless you are gathering statistics for a tripod manufacturing company or their distributors and retailers, finding out what everyone else thinks or does seem irrelevant to the question. This is because YOU have to analyze YOUR situation and come to the conclusion that is best suited to your requirements, shootg conditions, techniques, and physical condition. And, of course, the quality YOU want or need to achieve.

Here are some suggestions as to QUESTIONS you should ask YOURSELF. On the other side of this questionnaire, you will have the solution.

IBIS- Do you know the slow shutter speed limit of your IBIS system and will you have the frequent occasion to exceed that limit? These limits are dependent on the shutter speed and focal lengh in use.

GET A GRIP- If you do not pack a tripod are you familiar with improvised and effective camer holding and buffering techniques as well as the use of existing stationary objects such as trees, logs, fence posts, large rocks, buildings, and other structures, etc? In havinge to use this improvisation, will the limit yo a variety of came angles, various unique points of view, and good control over compositions?

TIME- Do you have a frequent need to make old-fashioned time exposures to enable nighttime effects like ligh streams from moving vehicles (sometimes called spaghetti), capture multipl bursts of fireworks, gettg those star patterns on point light sources lkie streetlamps at small apertures, etc.?

IQ and MORE- Do you want to be able to employ slow shutter speeds to enable smaller aperture settgs for greater depth of field and/or the lowest possible IOS settg to eliminate as much noise as you can to accommodate very large prints or exhibiting screens?

FOCAL LENGTH. Whe shootg landscapes with a wide-angle or normal lens, do you have occasion to zoom in or change to a longer lens for detailed images or changes of perceived perspectives?

COMPOSITION. When hand-holding a camera, can you fully concentrate on critical elements of composition and framing all the adjustments, variations bracketing, and observation by "chimping' if the came was firmly held in place?

SCHLEPPING- Not a strictly photograhic term but one of Yiddish origin meaning to proceed or move especially slowly, tediously, awkwardly, or carelessly and often applied to dragging about heavy or bulkey objects.
The question is how much can YOU SHELP and whether the burden is worth the effort and if it will enhance or impede your performance, creativity, find unique or difficult viewpoints (camer position), etc.

WEIGHT- If you somehow decide you need a tripod but your tripod is extremely heavy and unwieldy you might consider changing it up for a new one. It is a fact tath WEIGHT is not also the most important factor in stability. A well-engineered tripod, as to its geometry and construction, will out-stabilize one made of cast iron and weighed down with lead that is of an inferior design geometrically and physically (as in physics). I will attach a link to a great article on tripod selection. There are many current models made of carbon fiber and lighter metallic alloys that are light and stable. The article also discusses the issues of LOAD, balance, camera, and lens weight and types, height, center columns, legs, locking mechanisms, and of course, different kinds of heads.

ALTERNATIVES- Monopods, shoulder braces, vario grips, belt pods, gunstock mounts, or a pack animal or strong assistant to lug all your tripods. Animals (horses, camels, burros elephants, ) are great companions on long shoots- young assistants- sometimes, not so much!

http://blog.reallyrightstuff.com/choosing-a-tripod-part-1/