Why not? Doesn't it depend on your purpose and threat level? If you have state level actors chasing you than VPNs will only be part of your opsec toolchest — preferring TOR where possible and being very strict about where you access the internet (certainly not at home). But if you are just downloading the latest episode of Sherlock from your local hive of wretched scum and villainy, a VPN will surely help.
VPNs are only part of the solution of course (not using any social media, not connecting to any of your normal accounts, limiting VPN use to whatever it is you want to keep private), but you seem adamant that even this is not a valid use of VPNs, or am I misreading your posts?