I never saw the point...they need batteries and everyone is always sat within reach of the console anyway aren't they!? 
No, my consoles are across the room next to the TV. Couch is further away than the length of the cord. Infact, I have to put the gamecube half way from the TV to couch on the floor in order to play.
Plus with today's IC-3 batteries why complain. They charge in 15 minutes and have a high mAh (meaning they last a long time). All of my electronics that heavily use batteries use these now. My digicam lasts twice as long as it use to. My R/C car can go about 3 minutes longer than normal NiMHs.
I dislike the concept of paying as much for controllers as I did for the system.
Wavebirds only go for $8-$15 on ebay.
Well with two dogs and three kids you can forget using a cord I have had paddles ripped from my hands many times.
Or chewed on. While playing Champions of Norath with a friend his dog took a bite of the cord and we could no longer continue

I'm looking for the convenience factor. I could leave the controllers in the side table and not have a cord running across the living room.