If you are a smart shopper, rebates can't be considered anything but a great idea. Sure, a store could offer, say, $5 off a product for everyone, no hassles at all. Or, noting about a %20 rate on rebates submissions, it can offer a $25 rebate. If you're a smart shopper, you are careful enough to follow the fine print, do the rebate on time, and follow up through possible "issues" with your submission. And you're rewarded.

I'm quite happy to get $25 instead of $5 because simply because I'm more careful than most. I'd hate to lose that opportunity.