Well sometimes it is required. Phaige COULDN'T talk. Cut out his tongue. He had to cut the words into his chest.
That's just not realistic! How could someone talk out of their chest.... or even live for weeks if they had his tongue cut out? I mean... come on... let's try and keep this at least sorta real...

I love seeing new ideas, like the Phaige talking. I just wish there was a way to do it where it wasn't the same every time.
I view "say" as water, and everything else as various flavours of other beverages. Sure, we all love Dr. Pepper, but there are only so many times you can have it before you start to hate it, and others around you too. Sometimes, there is a medical reason, as in Phaige's case, but even then... change it up. Now, I'm nto saying Phaige sucked, but I'm just saying variety is the spice of life.
That is why I, when I do use them, have three or four set up so that when I need to use it it's a say command with another letter in front. Unless your guy, Aeva, is morbidly obese and rich as hell, he's not gonna have that many bonbons. 
Aeva brups, "MY BONBONS!" as he reaches into his pocket.
Aeva frantically searches is pockets, pulling out a handful of smooshed bonbons.
Slowly, Aeva's eyes get wider as one, then two, then three bonbons are placed into his mouth.
Aeva says, "MMmmmm! They get better when they're softened by the warm of the thigh!"
Aeva says, "Wait! Where are you going? I can share.... hello?"

a-g