* Visibility: Light microscopes use visible light to illuminate and magnify specimens. This allows for the visualization of the basic structures and shapes of cells, which are generally larger than the wavelength of visible light.

* Cost-effectiveness: Light microscopes are relatively inexpensive and widely available, making them a practical choice for basic cell observation.

* Versatility: Light microscopes can be used for a variety of purposes, including observing live cells, stained cells, and tissues.

While other types of microscopes exist, like electron microscopes, they are typically used for observing much finer details within cells and are not necessary for simply determining the overall shape.