I think at some bases, such as Del Rio where there are not many choices on the economy it makes sense to keep them. I can even see it for bases like SJAFB where you have maybe 3 grocery stores for a town of 60K people, but at bases like Belvoir, it makes absolutely no sense. It makes even less sense when you realize in a 45 mile radius, you have Meyers, Meade, Bolling, Quantico, and Andrews too.
Bullet and I have not used the commissary since he retired, because between the drive (20 miles), the surcharge and tipping the baggers there is no real savings compared to us going around the corner to Harris Teeters using our VIC card. We are obviously not the rarity because when you look around the parking lot there are a lot of military base stickers.
The other defenses I can see for it are:
1. The fact many enlisted spouses work there, thus for them it is also about employment, small towns like Del Rio, Goldsboro, Mt. Home have less work opportunities than larger areas, and it would require 2 cars, where they can work on base without having to purchase a car.
2. Many members will live on base, i.e. in the Q's or TLFs. They are there for a short period, but in an apt type living. It is a convenience for them to walk/drive to the commissary instead of getting in the car trying to find the nearest grocery store.
As far as cheaper, there are some items that are much cheaper,milk, butter, baby formula and diapers comes quickly to mind. I use to get ticked when I would shop at the commissary and see retirees load up an entire cart, clearing off shelves with these items, because what 70 yr old needs baby formula? The one that is buying it for their grandchildren to help them save money. We use to joke about their carts because they always had 4 specific items and a ton of it.
~ Milk
~ Baby formula
~ Cartons of cigarettes
~ Bacon
The joke was we could not understand the reason for the amount of bacon they would get, my family of 5 couldn't go through that amount in 6 -9 months.