I mainly use it for seeing if anyone I know is online, but also the ship list helps as it allows you to get an idea if any indys are around where your characters are so you can get some interaction.
Another reason I use it is the opposite of what some people are saying it is used for, such as I check the ships that I may end up fighting to make the fight more even (I don't want to take a GB to shoot an LF, nor do I want to take a VHF to shoot a BS) as I find fights where the sides are heavily unbalanced to be rather dull regardless of wich side I happen to be on.
Kiggles:mellow:
I've been mildly miffed by one-shot weapons since their implementation, oh so long ago. I remember the days when fights were a matter of who could aim better, rather than who could aim a single shot. - Virus