It can be convenient when cleaning stainless or glass since it can dissolve grease and dries up streakless. Otherwise window cleaner spray also works amazingly.
Otherwise no idea why one would use it on other surfaces.
Mechanical anchors handle in my experience pretty much everything. I like the plastic ones from Fischer. And they make them for pretty much any application you could wish for.
My workplaces is like this: Some walls are red brick, others white/yellow brick. I have one random concrete wall. A couple plywood walls. I have yet to find a plasterboard wall.