Land navigation--finding bearings

Howdy,

I recently learned how to use an analog watch as an approximate compass:

"To use your watch as an approximate compass outside of the tropics in the northern hemisphere, hold the watch horizontal and point the hour hand at the sun. Half way between that point and the twelve o'clock mark on your watch points to the south. For example, if it is eight o'clock, point the 8 on the watch face at the sun and south would be at the ten o'clock position. If it is four o'clock, point the 4 on the watch face at the sun and south would be in the two o'clock position. At midday (twelve o'clock), the hour hand itself should point south."

My question is: When is the watch-as-compass trick useful? If the sun is out, why wouldn't you just use it to determine bearings? It rises east and sets west. Am I missing something here?

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Land navigation--finding bearings