Thoughts on the "500 to Go!" system in the modern era?

In my opinion, I can understand the idea that these serve as pseudo rewards in their own right, being used in a pinch or to take out more difficult cogs. And often times one is enough to take out a whole row of cogs.

But because of the tediousness of getting them back (especially if you use multiple at once), you will have people understandably hold onto them, because you might just need them later for a more difficult situation.