Actually, the meal plan can make sense even without "maxing" the plan.
If you consider that you are paying $8 for a CS meal including tax, add a $2 drink, then you are paying $25 for a TS dinner that includes tax, tip, and drink.
It would be difficult to have a TS meal at most of the better resturants in WDW without spending at LEAST $25 for an entree, drink, tax, and tip. Add in a dessert if you want and an appetizer if you want, and you are WAY over your $25.
Throw in another free soda or water for the day at $2 plus tax, and you'd have to work pretty hard not to spend $35 a day for your two meals and a drink.
If you don't want TS meals the meal plan does not make sense, but if you want to use the TS resturants, then it makes $'s and sense.