I have to agree with both Bean who is against them to a degree, but I am most certainly for the use of them as a one time beginning game purchase. For sure, after a little bit, as the game ramps up and levels are accumulated, the potions will prove to be more of a waste of money as it will be taking away from getting closer to the items you need to actually cause the enemy team some issues. Saying that, however, I believe they would be very important on the opening faceoff. As people have said, an average of 50% life regen from them.. you increase you time farming, which will pay off the potions and bring in profits to get the items you will start building. also survivability.. if you and the enemy have beaten each other to a pulp, and the enemy goes back to get health, pop a pot or two, regain health there while farming, and perhaps getting a good few first swings at the all-mighty turrets. While the enemy was at base, what did he get? Nothing.. no farm, has to run back, and you have a mild advantage being ahead on the turret attacks. Mild. Anything is better than nothing am I right? Most importantly, in respects to your friends, they sound like idiots =) It sounds like they play the same style game in game out. I am sure they must make changes when needed.. like buy a different kind of armor for magic resist when they need it.. instead of going for one they want according to specific build. Why do we do this? cause the game is SITUATIONAL.. SITUATIONAL.. sometimes.. a potion will be useless and wasteful early game.. situation, like bean said, taking risks, gettin killed cause of risky behaviour.. that is a situation that would have made pots useless and wasteful.. but if used right, it is amazing.. goes with any item.. basically if you noob it up you noob it up, if you do it right you do it right.. =D If you play better, last longer, and notice benefit early on, go for it, doesnt hurt, in fact its probably a really good thing you are doing. Go for it. I am gonna do it =)

I have to agree with Bean, who is slightly against them, but I am most certainly for the use of them as a one time beginning game purchase.

As the game ramps up and levels are accumulated, the potions will certainly prove to be more of a waste of money as it will be taking you away from getting closer to the items you need to actually cause the enemy team some issues.

That said, however, I believe they would be very important on the opening face off. As people have said, the average of 50% life regen from them increases your time farming, which will pay off the potions and bring in profits to get the items you will start building. Survivability is also a factor: if you and the enemy have beaten each other to a pulp, and the enemy goes back to get health, you can pop a pot or two to regain health there while continuing to farm; you might even get a few first swings at the almighty turrets. 

While the enemy was at base, what did he get? Nothing. No farm, he has to run back, and you have a mild advantage being ahead on the turret attacks. Only mild, but something is better than nothing!

The game is situational. Sometimes, a potion will be useless and wasteful early game. In a situation where, like Bean said, you're taking risks and possibly getting killed because of them, pots would be useless and wasteful... but if used correctly, they're amazing.

Basically, if you do it right, you do it right. If it helps you play better, last longer, and notice a benefit early on, then go for it.