Sounds like a fun project.
Honest question: why would one switch from a much more capable "carry everywhere" smartphone camera to this? Especially since phone is truly carry always & everywhere and that computational processing squeezes out insane amount of photo quality from already excellent phone cameras.
I have a box full of film gear and development equipment because, one day, I want to hang a picture of my kids on the wall that I _made_. My photo, on film I developed, printed manually by my hand, hung in a frame I built. I'll get to it some day!
The idea of building a camera like this tickles me the same way. It's fun!
I've done that and I recommend it.
In fact I recommend doing that for EVERYTHING you can! You don't need to do it more than once in your life but it's worth going through the actual process to learn.
That being said I also have a FujiFilm Insta to print polaroid size photos for the fridge or to give to guests.
Those though are 2 different processes, one is about learning the other about convenient usage.
It would be great for kids who you don’t want to give a phone to. I got something similar for my young kids and they love it.
But also there doesn’t always need to be a “why” beyond it being fun for the creator to create.
True, makes total sense for kids
Oh my god if you’re asking that question you’re on the wrong site
Photos aren't only about quality, especially there days where it's popular to use lower resolution cameras, with worse optics. Specifically for portraits, it's common to use diffusion filters that reduce a bit details/contrast or do that in editing so you don't see every little "defect" on someone's skin.
Some people specifically want something other than their phones because they don't want to always have their phone or use it all the time, others want better controls or a different experience.