Usefulness of Cloak & Hood of Defiance?

[Qai]

They build into Pipe of Insight, which I think is great for team fights, but on their own *practically* how useful are they? Is a Pipe something a support should build or a carry? With all the items making up the Pipe, apart from the Headdress, it's not until very late that the support can actually off-load the utility of these expensive components. Meanwhile the Headdress + Buckler -> Mekansm provides a lot more utility very early into the game. The support is cash-strapped most of the game and is better of buying other items. On the other hand, a carry needs to get high damage + high survivability items. Kind of unsure where to stand with Cloak, HoD, and Pipe as a support player.

[Angie]

support and tanker should built pipe for the team.

[Angie]

carry don't usually build pipe for the team fight.

[4 for $4 Deal]

Pipe is good on tanks and supports alike, while HoD is good for tanks if someone else already has Pipe, or if you're Pudge to negate a lot of the Rot damage.

[Bosley165]

A casual cloak can mean being able to take 1-2 more nukes and thus surviving a fight/gank. Your support or a tanky hero should pickup a pipe at some point if the enemies have a lot of magic damage

[Nickfighter]

Non supports can farm these items quickly if your team needs them. Mek and pipe make your team tankier, which wins fights in ways damage won't.