It depends on where you are and where you want to be. What are your goals?

If you would like to lose weight, then I would advise avoiding or limiting dehydrated fruit/meat. As you note, they are more dense and lend themselves to overconsumption. However, if you are generally healthy and at a good weight, then some dehydrated fruit and jerky might serve as nice change of pace/snack. It's also convenient when you are on a trip, camping, etc.

I don't know of any specific health benefit gained by dehydrating. So, if it doesn't interest you, don't feel like you are missing out on anything.

As far as a nutrition standpoint for veg and things whole/raw is almost always better. but sometimes you need that crunch that comes with dehydrating. As far as jerky it can be easy to overeat if you are trying to lose weight and the salt content can be over the top, I make my own because store bought is usually made with soy, so not paleo, it tastes better and more beefy not as salty and I can't eat as much of it. I've also found that some of the fruits and things you can buy in the store have added sugars and crap, so then make my own. I love my dehydrater..everything is more yummy! :)

yes but I don't do much raw veggies, raw foods, although much better for you, can be difficult to digest and cause distress. I guess with all things, start in moderation and work up to what you can handle.

I have an awesome dehydrator, I use for soaked nuts, making yogurt (from which I also make sour cream), making fruit rolls. I have dehydrated carrots and zucchini to make 'chips' and 'fries' but I don't handle them well even in small amounts, I need cooked foods for now. But the potential is there!

Get a good one that allows you take out the trays to make yogurt in a jar. I would recommend one if you are going to use it.

I think it definitely is for prepping snacks for most people (nuts, jerky, fruit)

I personally wouldn't do it as I would probably be "that person" that would over-eat because they were dehydrated. The h20 part helps to fill you up, and let you know you've eaten enough in my opinion.

I bought a really nice Excalibur dehydrator about six years ago, when I was still snacking all the time and wanted to make my own dried fruit, free of additives.

Then I got fat again, in part due to all that dried fruit. Whoops.

Once in a while I still use it to make yogurt, creme fraiche, and kale/veggie chips--none of which require the dehydrator to make. Nor does drying a big haul of wild mushrooms. I've made a few batches of excellent beef and venison jerky, but since I can't eat much of it most ends up as gifts to my outdoorsy friends.

What it gets used for most often these days is to dry (non-toxic) craft projects. I make little sculptures out of recycled paper clay, and the dehydrator cuts drying time drastically. But really? That's not what I bought the dehydrator for, and I wouldn't have bought it for that purpose alone.

In other words, the dehydrator's an appliance that sounded like a great, money-saving way to make my own healthy, natural snacks, but it turned out to be unnecessary, given my actual needs. I'll keep it, as I've got space for it and it is convenient (and my outdoorsy friends love my jerky), but if I were to do it over again I would not buy it. YMMV, of course.