Coolers definitely have their place, and I would like to have a larger one than what I got currently. That said, I don't use the one I have currently very often.
We had a birthday party for my 3 year old last month. The cooler full of ice was perfect for holding drinks. I don't think the fridge would have kept cold being opened that often.
The flip side of that though is the last Arkansas run. We were only out there for like 3 days and by the end of it my food was swimming in the cooler.
@tex and
@balakay both had cold beer and dry food. That was kind of what sold me on the fridge. On the plus side, I had ice to use in my whiskey.
As for the camping aspect, I have 3 small kids. Long hikes to primitive campsites isn't happening anytime soon.