Saw an article that called slow cookers the original "set it and forget it" gadget. They're so cheap and simple, but you can make a huge batch of something with almost no effort. Honestly, the fancy stuff is cool, but sometimes the basic tool just works better.
Remember my friend burned three dinners with her smart oven trying to follow complicated recipes. She finally listened to @tarag28 and got a basic slow cooker for stews. Now she actually has food ready when we come over.