Very useful for VFR flight, probably these days its not really good to fly without them, I'm not saying just go off and fly and follow the direction the GPS tells you, not that I've used one much, as I can't afford it
(Damn OAA!)
But all it takes is one infringement and you will be appearing in front of the CAA, or busting airport zone and having them call up your flying school which will just give you a bad name there, like flying in the Stapleford/ Cambridge area the class Alpha airspace often is 2500 ft and there are parts that you could easily miss on a chart. Just make life as easy as possible for yourself, flying is as difficult as you make it. Don't know why I'm still ranting