I also buy TCs when the rate is obviously good.

I bought as much as I could last summer when the $ was so good with my €. Of course I knew I'd be traveling to the US soon, but you can always get your money back if you change your mind.
I've never had problems using TCs anywhere in the US (and that includes less touristic areas like Kansas or Alabama), even buying a postcard. Now they tend to ask for an ID a lot more often (no big deal really), and I've encountered waiters who "didn't know if they could take it", had them call the manager and that was that. I also like the idea of getting my money back if my TCs are stolen.

I have no afterthoughts using my CC anywhere in the world though, I just don't let anyone go out of my sight with it, no matter what their reason is...[msnwink] And as my bank charges me a lot when I use it abroad, with a minimum charge, I tend to use it for bigger amounts of money and only if I don't have a choice.[msncry]