Yup, I have about 1000 ft of driveway I need to re-top. The cost of doing it in gravel is an order of magnitudes cheaper than any other method other than just regrading with a tractor, which would need to be done again in a year or two. The current gravel was put in 30 years ago and it's just now getting to the point that it's bad enough that I need to do it.
Because this cost under $3000 USD in materials and I just have to get the gravel delivered and I can spread it myself with my own equipment. A concrete or asphalt road would require hiring a crew and I'd expect to have to spend closer to $20-30k+ for materials and labor.
I remember watching quite a few episodes of some reno show where the homeowner had to choose between two designs for the garden, and both choices usually ended up putting gravel down, which horrified us when we saw it.
When I think of gravel in the back yard (garden), it's the base layer for the paving stones that go on top of it
For me, it means I could never walk barefoot without it sticking to my feet in addition to it being uncomfortable to walk on.
It usually comes in decorative colors, helps prevent erosion, and can create a lower-maintenance surface.
It can consolidate a heterogenous surface into a finished, uniform appearance.
It can be used in pet areas to reduce mud from your pets running around on bare dirt also reducing them bringing mud or dirt into the house.
Gravel allows water to soak into plants, not just runnning off so landscape plants and trees live!