I just use it when I find it is more readable. Sometimes I have things like

my $var = (
    $EXPR
    ? sprintf( '...', $x )
    : sprintf( '...', $y )
);
[download]

which I find more readable than a

my $var;
if ( $EXPR ) {
    $var = sprintf( '...', $x );
}
else {
    $var = sprintf( '...', $y );
}
[download]

I think it gives the possibility to keep together what should stand together. I also often found, that those real life scenarios you speak of are simpler to solve with the ternary operator, than with fully written conditionals.

But in the end, it's surely a question of personal preference :)

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