I thought the same way but then I went on vacation after a few years using it, and I didn't bring the cpap with me.... Let me tell you, I now bring it with me for any kind of overnight trip. I felt so terrible on my vacation especially right after waking up and my throat hurt so much. I guess in my case it was like how you don't notice your own aging so much because you see yourself everyday, but when you visit a relative after a while they notice a massive diference.