Other than electricity, they aren’t used to measure inflation. Which is little consolation to people on a fixed income, who still have to purchase them.
I’m guessing that I’m in Megan’s class when it comes to the number owned, but I also rare use them any more. It really is a lot easier to just look up a recipe on the web with a netbook on the kitchen counter. I mainly use them for traditional recipes that I’ve made for years for special occasions, like holidays (I’ve been using the New York Times cookbook for decades). Also, most cookbooks I have don’t do well with a paleolithic diet.