Neil Fraser wrote:
Dextre was launched to ISS in March 2008, and was fully tested and
qualifed for space operations a year later in April 2009.

Was it really launched in 2008 ? I thought it was more recent.

The original specs called for Dextre to be designed to do exactly what
they did with EVA a day or two ago: replace batteries on the truss.

My guess is that astronauts like to do EVAs so they fidn excuses to not
use Dextre. After shuttle is gone, Dextre may have less use than planned
originally, not only because less cargo/spare parts will be sent to the
ISS, but whatever is sent, is liekly to have been sent in a pressurised
ship (Progress, ATV, HTV) and need to get out via Airlock and thus
require EVA anyways.