Why do people make such long and mostly useless how to videos on youtube?

I think you might be generalizing and judging a bit much from one example. I have found many “how-to” videos on You Tube very useful.

Oh, they’re useful once you get past the introduction, but every one that I’ve found spends a inordinate amount of time talking instead of showing.

What the Penguin said. And really, even if they’re not produced to your taste, you’re old enough to remember when there was no YouTube, and I’ll bet you spent a lot longer figuring the stuff out on your own.

Most how to videos I’ve watched on YouTube are usually direct and to the point. I suggest you check out a channel called HowCast. Their how to tutorials are very good.

I have found the ‘how to’ videos on YouTube invaluable at times but I would agree that some of the people like the sound of their own voices too much. It is good that they take the time to help others and I try to remember they are aiming for a general audience rather than answering my specific questions.

Not sure, I don’t usually watch them. I look for what I need and usually the shorter ones are done by those who know what they are doing/

This person’s “how to” channel is straight to the point with little talking ;)
http://youtu.be/BCFuE1tlqwU

I think they are experiments to see how much animated video with sounds can be less efficient that written information.

Actually, I think they just think they need to establish context, and/or like to hear/see themselves, or something.

Having written, directed and even appeared in many, many videos, commercials and podcasts in my advertising career, I know the range and depth of skills needed to produce even modestly professional-looking videos, let alone really polished ones—such skills as writing, editing, knowledge of the camera, audio, and lighting, and of course on-camera presence. Sadly, YouTube (as all social media forms) make it far too easy for people without these skills to produce videos and podcasts.

That said, I agree with @janbb—I find DIY videos extremely helpful for a wide range of professional and personal needs.. So much so, in fact, that I usually manage to overlook poor quality, unnecessary length and other distracting elements (like a teenager’s scratchy choice) if the video is a subject I really need to know about.

Why? because it actually pays, that’s why.