factories run on excel...terrifyingly so. I know semiconductor semiconductor fabs that basically run on queries in a many sheeted workbooks. The reason is because not everyone codes, especially not factory foreman, technicians, etc. They don't need a continuously running app (well they do but they don't know it) they just need formatted data.
That links to comment two. The issue that Excel solves over code goes back (IMHO) to two issues that come up with coders/noncoders. First, most users of excel are interested in the answer rather than the process. I get the value of being able to audit your steps visually, but the transition from Excel to R is a transition from the primary visual being data (i.e., results) to process. Depending on your perspective that can be highly meaningful.
Second, and probably more importantly, Excel lets you visualize your data as it progresses. For those with lower (or just different/less abstract) spatial and visual reasoning ability, seeing the progress of data from column to column can have a fairly profound effect. This extends to students who are trying to learn by seeing the progression as steps of a processing algorithm are applied. Doing so in code abstracts that process heavily. For some, especially those not used to treating data in the abstract/blind via code.