Purpose is reduced recoil. If reducing recoil gives you benefits you want, and it outweighs the negatives, do it.

No tender shoulder, more shooting in one session, and keeping on target are reasons I run them in big calibers...

Looking cool is not one of them.

If you are at a gun range, loud is par for the course. Be kind and accommodating in your choices, but shoot what you like. You can choose a muzzle brake with less concussion if that worries you. Some really do make it more pronounced on the shooter and bystanders...