I cannot imagine why anyone would want anything I go to that requires a password

This is why I have a few "throwaway passwords" for things where my identity is not at real risk - like AWAD, or the NY Times. Then when I'm stumped and can't remember them, I only have to try three or four "standard" ones. Then I have some "decent" passwords which are nonsense strings (for which I've created mnemonics) that regularly get rotated for more private stuff (such as my Unix accounts at school, Hotmail, etc.).