The dance of camera design has always been a complex one. Camera makers weigh costs, production, distribution, practicality, size, weight, and, of course, consumer perspective.

For more than a decade, my wife Abby kept and point-and-shoot camera in her purse. At that time, the cameras in phones weren’t the imaging juggernauts we have in our pockets today, and Abby was never willing to turn down a photo opportunity.

But we don’t see point-and-shoot cameras any more outside of millennial art circles, and the reason isn’t what you think: it’s not the cameras in smart phones, it’s the connectivity in smart phones.

And before you raise your hand and say, “Yes, Richard, but…” I am aware that many point-and-shoot cameras feature some level of WiFi connectivity, but none were ever really able to compete with the native, one-and-done connections to the networks like smartphones have done since the first iPhone was introduced in January 2007, almost 20 years ago.

Another downside photographers don’t discuss about these cameras is that they are kind of fragile. Smartphones are usually in rubberized cases and are shaped like bricks, whereas point-and-shoots have lenses that extend and retract, are harder to hold, and are usually made of plastic.

The less-exciting truth is that even I, with my best intentions to bring out and use my old point-and-shoot cameras, find it difficult to fold them into my workflow. I’ll still keep trying, since I know I can make great pictures with them, and I know that doing things a little differently can lead to some interesting creative detours.

How about you? Do you have a point-and-shoot camera or three that you retired the day you brought home your first iPhone? It might be fun to get it out, charge it up, and see what creativity it inspires!