Here are some ways it can be usedIf you were to play in a some-what smart way, you'd never run out of blocks / food because you'd restock when you get a bunch of iron...
It really doesn't have much use with the debuffs.
-To Get Back To Your Island if bridge was broken
-Quick Restock On Food if you get hungry
-Escape Plan by buying some blocks to escape quickly
-Getting ready for a fight with leather armor and sword
Pretty Sure their are more methods to using this strategy just have to be creative and smart about it :)
*Thinking about letting the villager sell a pickaxe as well (Stone Unenchanted)