While battery operated toys used to be the norm, rechargeable toys have taken over in this industry. But that said, sometimes you just want a battery operated toy. They are a usually much less expensive so they make great starter toys. Battery operated toys are also ready to go out of the box so you don't have to wait 2+ hours to charge them before using the first time and if you keep enough batteries on hand, you never have to worry about your toy being unusable while recharging. Some folks prefer battery operated toys for traveling; you can take the batteries out and you never have to worry about your toy turning on at the wrong time!