Using BlueBoard#01 to prototype with surface mount components is often faster than the the two main alternatives.

Alternative 1: Custom PCBs

Getting started a BlueBoard#01 that you happen to have hand is certainly faster than having a prototype PCB manufactured. This is why we sell them in stacks.

BlueBoard #01 then makes it simple to remove, replace and experiment with components and circuits. Iteration is fast.

Fixing mistakes is much simpler than with a custom PCB: no need to scrape back soldermask from a track, or try to wire to the middle pin of a 0.5mm pitch 10-MSOP.

Alternative 2: Solderless Breadboards

If you have more than a couple of SMT components, solderless breadboards can be difficult to work with.

Noise and inductance can be particular problems around analog devices, oscillators and switch mode power supplies. All of these types of circuits go better when the components are securely connected with as short a path as possible between points. Having connections you can trust makes everything go faster because there's less debugging of unimportant problems.

I also find that dealing with more than a few breakout boards is annoying. Mounting components to a breakout board is more difficult than mounting to a larger PCB.

In summary

BlueBoard #01 brings some of the features of solderless breadboard to surface-mount prototyping in an environment that is faster to get going with than and electrically similar to a finished PCB.