The 3pin has its uses, more so than the

.
With the 3pin: 4pin gives a three-way wait plus guaranteed pinfu, and 2pin gives a 6-tile ryanmen plus guaranteed pinfu, and both have a shot at tanyao if the 6man shows up.
With 9sou: 8sou gives a 6-tile ryanmen with guaranteed pinfu that allows keeping both dora. 789 sanshoku is too far-fetched.