The instructions say to dump the water out every day and start fresh in the morning. I don't do that, because I am too lazy.
It is overkill if you don't use it all that much (we use and refill at least once a day). But if you're a hardcore hot beverage drinker, it's truly the Cadillac of kettles.
I imagine it has to do with scaling, discoloration, and/or lifetime. I have stayed with my old stovetop kettle until now, simply because it has no plastic/silicone/rubber in contact with the water.
The pot still works fine. The gasket hardened and cracked, but Zojirushi USA sells parts online. It was about $10 for a new one.
For best tea, you should only use water that has been boiled once (since reaching an equilibrium with dissolved oxygen at/below room temperature)