This wasn't about usefulness, it was about showing the correct scale of things in relation to each other. Flat maps are always distorted, because they are projections. You can't get a flat map where all scales are correct. Only a globe has the correct scales in all directions.
but you want scales correct because you are trying to get a useful image. if you really fuss over it, if i look at a 12" globe from 24" away, some of the part i see is 6" further away. 24 v 30 inches.
There are no flat maps that are to scale in all directions... It's physically impossible. You're talking about perspective with a globe. A globe is still to scale.