FWIW ... to avoid semantic misunderstanding. Only one program can use ASIO at a time, but loaded programs that 'release' the ASIO driver when they are not the active window do, in that sense, share the driver.

It may be that most programs automatically release the drivers and only DAWs hold on to them. I routinely load Windows Media Player using system ASIO drivers while running Cubase, and which ever program is in the foreground plays just fine.

And yes, unless you are recording either midi or audio, ASIO drivers are unneccesary.

Still, many folks like to be able to play/ record a softsynth accompanied by tracks that are playing back in their DAW. Or like to write automation to recorded audio tracks. For these and other purposes the lowered latency of ASIO ... less the 10 msec on a powerful computer ... is critical.

Prado