could be nice to have a dedicated always-on device in the kitchen or other family-oriented space. default screen could be like the family calendar or a shopping list or any number of other things.

edit: also:

The Cupertino giant is said to have received a phenomenal deal where it only has to pay $10 per display for the HomePod, meaning that it has the opportunity to price the product competitively and take on its rivals more effectively.

…

Sadly, the pricing details were not mentioned in the report, but given that Google and Amazon have successfully tightened a noose in this category by having a multitude of smart speakers in different pricing brackets, we strongly feel that affordability will give Apple a massive advantage.