It serves as a super scarf without every coming undone. Covers your jugulars and keeps the heat in. You can pull it up over your mouth and nose just to the bottom of your goggles for face protection in strong wind, bitter cold, and driven, stinging snow. I always bring one, hardly ever use it, but when I need it, I need it bad. The goggles are a pain to pack because they are fragile.
Cheap ones fog up and are useless.
Goggles let you see when you're above treeline in a blizzard. Shades will get fogged and iced. More so than a neck gaitor, when you need goggles you need them bad. Pack them carefully and when you need them you'll have them. For cutting food and other utility needs.