The humble spreadsheet is the most robust data analysis tool of our lifetime and the two exceptions provided by the author (fit-on-screen data, temp storage) ignores a variety of uses that several comments itt reference.

The key value IMO - as other have said - is that it's sharable to non-technical folks.

The key value is that it’s a visual tool with native usability affordances addressing the needs of novices as well as power users — we have too few of such tools.