The benefit it has is that the 'shop.' subdomain can't be guessed from the DNS records. I get a lot of spam to <randomname>@mydomain.com.
Of course, if someone sees my email address, they could certainly infer a new one. But I'll deal with that if and when I get singled out. I don't think the spammers often actually look at the millions of addresses they use.
If I start getting spam on a particular alias, I can set up filtering rules to delete them.
This is actually really useful - you have a map of 'what is the fastest way home from anywhere in the city?' On moving to a new city, getting a map like this and memorising a few of the arteries would help loads with familiarization.
If there's someone in the office having a confrontational phone call, I have to either feel their rage or isolate myself (loud music). Seeing other people's injuries (especially my son's) is overwhelming. I naturally do the 'Choose the other side' suggestion from the article - possibly due to an incorrect belief that other people act rationally, and so must have had some reason for being mean. I have to be really careful with emotive TV/films. They can screw me up for days.
Of course, if someone sees my email address, they could certainly infer a new one. But I'll deal with that if and when I get singled out. I don't think the spammers often actually look at the millions of addresses they use.
If I start getting spam on a particular alias, I can set up filtering rules to delete them.