VPN are really usefull for business to link different locations with internet instead of using (awfully costly) dedicated link... or to allow remote work
VPN as a technology, yes. But I think "VPN" in this discussion is referring specifically to the myriad of consumer-oriented paid solutions (SurfShark, NordVPN, whatever) that are pitched as being about protecting your online security, pirating with impunity, and bypassing region-locks.