A GPS measures ground speed, ignoring the effects of tides and currents. If you're trolling or exercising you probably would rather know your water speed. Using the pitot tube speedometer in conjunction with a GPS tells you both. Additionally the pitot tube is pretty good at detecting sea weed or anything else caught on your fins. It also has less time lag than a GPS and no random inputs. In places where there isn't much water movement it probably doesn't make much difference, but even lakes have currents.
I like the pitot tube because it is easy to read, has no batteries to run dead and sits right in the line of sight for instant feedback. The scale needs to be calibrated for each person's weight and boat model but it is very consistent. It's made of some plastic that in quite tough. I've accidentally sat on them and bent them but they pop right back.
It's a lot like flying and knowing your ground speed and air speed -- they both provide good and relevant information. I use both together.
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