In historic times (before 1990) I am told that there was a fair
proportion of solo playing at NPS meetings, and presumably elsewhere.
Some pipers found the prospect of playing on there own before their
peers a daunting and nerve-wracking prospect. Since that time we
have come to a point where
AMEN Brother Barry!
As you say, playarounds are useful and fun for a number of reasons.
The problem of this sort of playing, though, is that it encourages the
Least Common Denominator of playing. Unless you have a group that
plays together regularly and has settled on tune arrangments
