Our impression has always been that it's a hassle. It's not if you have something you want to keep from prying eyes. Politicians running election campaigns, citizens storing tax records, therapists protecting clients' files, entrepreneurs guarding trade secrets, journalists protecting their sources and people seeking romance are a few of those who use it. Suppose you're a manager and you need to e-mail an employee about his job performance. You may be required by law to keep the letter confidential.
Encryption also helps secure online financial transactions.
And yes, criminals use encryption, but they're more likely to use cars, gloves and ski masks to evade capture. But your boss, friend, online provider or neighborhood hacker has zero chance. Using encryption protects your privacy far better than not using it. We see your point. Some people might even see it as paranoid.