Aerial View Maps

What was Google Street View actually created for?

I mainly look at it out of curiousity, to explore, and, ahem, "stalk", if you will. But what constructive/meaningful purpose is it for? I mean, traditional aerial maps are good enough to find places.

Public Comments

1. maps are not just for "finding places"
2. probably for the government to spy on us i bet there is a tiny camera on my tree outside right now
3. It almost seems like it's for sheer entertainment value, but the expense of having all those trucks driving around photographing every inch of street doesn't seem like it would justify it. It can help with identification. You're trying to find an address that you only know by sight. It can also help find an address after getting directions, because you know what to look for. I thought I'd look for a source, and the first one I found agrees with me, although the reasons are in reverse order of what I said. 1. It revolutionizes how people use maps. 2. You can find places you've been but don't remember the names of. 3. You can see places that you're never going to go. Google is amazing. I personally think their search engine is still their "killer app", but they just keeping looking for one, don't they?
4. For those professionals who shell out 400 $$ for the enhanced version.