A lot of them have exceptions for items produced before the ban, like the Massachusetts “Assault Weapons Ban” that allows only AR-15 lowers produced before the ban to be used without reduced ergonomics. Also, having a license gives you the option to buy a gun before such a ban goes into effect, if they ban items that you think you would want later! If you see a ban happening, and have to wait a year for your license, you do not have an option to get whatever is being banned before the ban goes through.
Also, procuring guns has lots of downsides—storage cost, danger, theft target, etc. Reducing the time from wanting gun → getting gun (legally) from over a year to a day gets you most of the way to the goal (which is having the option of buying a gun) without any of the downside (except the $110). So it may be a better deal.
A lot of them have exceptions for items produced before the ban, like the Massachusetts “Assault Weapons Ban” that allows only AR-15 lowers produced before the ban to be used without reduced ergonomics. Also, having a license gives you the option to buy a gun before such a ban goes into effect, if they ban items that you think you would want later! If you see a ban happening, and have to wait a year for your license, you do not have an option to get whatever is being banned before the ban goes through.
Also, procuring guns has lots of downsides—storage cost, danger, theft target, etc. Reducing the time from wanting gun → getting gun (legally) from over a year to a day gets you most of the way to the goal (which is having the option of buying a gun) without any of the downside (except the $110). So it may be a better deal.