You can can various peppers and beans that are often too long for other jars in those pint and a halfs. They are also super nice for storing dehydrated stuff :)

But the Menards in South Haven, Michigan had ball jars on clearance for 7-11 bucks a case depending on the size. I noted it when I was passing through today, but I was shopping for seed starting stuff instead of canning stuff :)

I use the 1 1/2 pt jars for those time when a pint is too little and a quart is too much. For us, it's spaghetti sauce.

I find the pint and a halfs to be useful for canning potatoes and green beans.

asparagus of course, with the pt + 1/2 - but also peaches and pears....