Unused tools

[nkre8]

I've been using Illustrator for quite a few years and I've never used the smudge and eraser tool that can be found nested with the pencil. Does anyone have any experience with these tools and what they might be used for?
Thanks

[TORCH511]

Sure, although it is not the smudge tool, it is the smooth tool.

The smooth tool can be used to smooth out paths. I find it handy when I have to create a bleed for a continuing curve. I get close to matching the curve as I can and then smooth between the two. If you are doing more freehand illustration, I can see where the tool could come in handy. Every now and then I have occasion where I have to do a little and will create paths with the pencil, and refine the tool with the smooth tool.

The eraser in CS/CS2 is now the path eraser in CS3 (CS3 also includes a whole new eraser). It chops out segments of paths. If I do not care about precision and just want to cut into a segment it is quicker than creating new anchor points and deleting the resulting segment. If I have a lot of that to do it is of great benefit.

Play around with them.