For reasons that are too numerous to list here, you may not be able to afford to have the latest and greatest computing hardware every year. Being able to program allows you to maximize the use of your current computing hardware. In addition, some people consider it a challenge to be able to do more with less. If you knew how to program, you would able to completely set up the query and the statistical analysis ahead of time, and then schedule the query and the bulk of analysis to run at night. Also, many operating systems and computing environments today, such as Microsoft Windows, are multi-tasking.
Many people consider programming fun.
Initially, programming can be frustrating and time-consuming. Programming is generally a life-long experience. Programming skills remain with an individual for life, and can promote the learning process in other other areas of your life as well. Programming may also be one way of preventing the premature loss of mathematical skills. Programming also develops and enhances logic skills, because of the need to accurately define, document, and implement precise algorithms.