Yes for stupid stuff like turning off the network device, to cut access to the internet. Windows finds by itself that the network device is disconnected and reconnects it by itself. Granted it's not much, but it's as complicated to find that menu than to run that utility.

Has the annoying "search for a solution" window ever found a solution?

Actually yes. In W7, at least, anytime sound wasn't doing what it should have the "search for solution" button would fix it right up. The first time it gave and performed a solution and worked I was dumbfounded.