"Why bother installing a switch?  The answer to that is really simple... control. A switch allows you to be in control of the state of activity of a component; whether that means a simple off or on state or something that will let you choose a setting among more than just two choices. For a device as simple as a cold cathode you may think, "Why even both with hooking up a switch when I can just let my lighting bling 24/7? (or while the PC is on)."