Prius: Outside Air Temperature

I think I understand why the computers in the Prius may need to know
outside air temperature but can anyone give me a good reason why the
car feels the need to tell me? I far as I know there's nothing I can
do about it so why take up room on the display panel. What might be
more helpful is telling me what the temp is within the car..

Related issue, why the snow icon when it gets cold?

Thanks

I think I understand why the computers in the Prius may need to know
outside air temperature but can anyone give me a good reason why the
car feels the need to tell me? I far as I know there's nothing I can
do about it so why take up room on the display panel. What might be
more helpful is telling me what the temp is within the car..

Related issue, why the snow icon when it gets cold?

I thought the same thing about displaying the inside temperature at first,
but then I realized that the inside temperature is whatever I set it to when
I'm using the automatic A/C mode (once stabilized, that is). It seems even
less useful to know what the inside temperature is when you are telling it
what temperature you want it to be!

I think I understand why the computers in the Prius may need to know
outside air temperature but can anyone give me a good reason why the
car feels the need to tell me? I far as I know there's nothing I can
do about it so why take up room on the display panel. What might be
more helpful is telling me what the temp is within the car..

Related issue, why the snow icon when it gets cold?

There's nothing you can do about it??? There's nothing you can do about the passage of time, either, but the car has a clock. I, personally, find it very helpful to know the outside temperature.

I agree. I also like to compare the outside temperature with the
temperature the local radio weather announcers say.

On numerous occasions I've turned off my climate control system in
favor of cooling/heating with outside air. Knowing the outside air
temperature is necessary to this value judgment.

Correct

Yeah. Rolling down the window and trying it, or remembering what it was like 5 minutes ago when you walked out to the car and got into it, has absolutely zero value.

On interstate highways, it becomes very useful when coming into the
'heat island' of a city. Reading the temperature gauge is faster and
easier than sampling current outside temperature with the windows and
much quieter.

When approaching a city and I notice the temperature is uncomfortable, I
double check the temperature gauge; roll up the window(s); turn on the
AC; and adjust the radio volume. Once I'm leaving the city area, I check
the temperature gauge until it gets comfortable outside again. Then I
flip off the AC; roll down the window(s) and; adjust the radio.

The gauge is much easier than flipping the windows up and down on cross
country trips.

Bob Wilson