Raising Junipers 

I grew up in New Mexico and never thought of strip bark (single-seeded) juniper as a garden plant. We used them for firewood. They are very hardy and common in the southwest foothills.

Few people in New Mexico think of one-seed juniper as a garden plant. However, they make great plants for desert or xeriscape gardens, adding focal points and nice accents.
They also "sweeten" (lowering the pH to a more acidic level)the ground beneath them as they drop needles and berries. We use that soil to mix into our compost.
The kids love to play in them as well, making "forts" and "castles", and also discovering bird nests and squirrel and rabbit burrows.
And I agree, they also make good firewood.
There are also several small industries emerging for them, in furniture, fragrant oils, and also as lumber (and of course, coyote fences and latillas).

Here in Northern California, junipers were planted very heavily in the 60s and 70s residential landscaping, usually juniperus sabina. These shrubs are nice in terms of water consumption, but they are a preferred breeding ground for rats, along with most ivies and palm trees. Most people I know who have kept their junipers have horrible pest problems.