I own and have used the HTS for many years and it is still a viable tool for single shot images. That said, I no longer do still life, landscape, or architectural imaging with a single shot - software technology has passed the single shot imaging by, IMHO, and yes, there are some exceptions.
Most of my imaging involves travel, often by air which has an effect on the weight and volume I can carry. Specifically, I use a 36MP Nikon and the stitching/wide angle lens correction functionality in Photoshop. Stitching is not just for pano work but for other aspect ratio images as well where resolution and smoothness of tone are required. The quality of images done this way easily exceed 8x10 (which I have owned and shot) with all the needed perspective controls and no distortion. Here is but one example...