In a lot of cases, a joke; yes. Not the shot size of choice, not suitable, yes, yes, yes. Serious medicine for pheasant - of course not.

But the thread is about usefulness. Whether anyone agrees or not, 9 shot possesses usefulness. Have snakes been mentioned yet?

I'm sorry I brought up Sectional Density Impact which Stan points out is bunk.
Still, that pheasant I witnessed die dead as can be at about 30 yards and the many dove I've witnessed die-right-now to 9 shot, and those
birds top gun talks about all proved to be vivid, memorable and lasting visual images which attest to just how useful 9 shot can be in certain instances.

Useless? My opinion is no.