What Use Is Encarta?

I bought Works Suite 2006 because I didn't really know what I was doing.  One 
of the products included in the suite was Encarta.  

One day as I was playing around with it and not getting disirable results I 
started wondering, what is the purpose of searching Encarta when you can 
search the whole web online?  Then it occured to me that maybe if some people 
pay for internet use by the minute, then Encarta would be useful because you 
wouldn't have to go online to use it.  Am I missing something in the 
usefulness of Encarta?

Is there a way to get just updates for Encarta, (instead of buying a whole 
new edition), and if so, would there be any advantages for me doing that?  I 
pay for unlimited Internet usage.
    
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To All Spammers:  Die and Burn In An Early Christian Hell!!!