It didn't support people who aren't home to care for it (keep it fed) and enjoy the warmth.
I went from a regular fireplace to an insert for wood burning, then a gas insert. The gas insert had a problem, so the store replaced it with a Heatilator furnace insert.
Now, I've switched to mini splits and heat pumps in just about every room. I could turn on the gas fireplace for "ambiance" (said with a thick French accent), but even with a programmable thermostat, it really raised my gas bill during the colder part of the year. I'm trying to switch to electricity as much as possible since I have solar. I may add more panels and batteries much later.
Winter, the time to try to stay warm without going broke.