[whywhywhywhy]

Can't change the laptop volume with your eyes closed, I use my MBP to listen to podcasts in bed sometimes so like to alter the volume just by knowing where the keys are, not having to sit up and fumble with some touch screen widget.

[mthoms]

FWIW, I have BetterTouchTool configured so that a two finger swipe/scroll anywhere on the bar adjusts volume and a three finger one adjusts brightness.