> Is that better than logging into your online banking, making an instant transfer? No need to go anywhere or pay anyone. If I have their bank routing number a

> Is that better than logging into your online banking, making an instant transfer? No need to go anywhere or pay anyone. If I have their bank routing number and account number, sure I can do that (then it's effectively the same thing as a check but without the slip of paper). But I don't always have that info particularly for informal one-off payments (e.g. yard cleaner that came to haul debris away) so it's easiest to hand them a check.