Please explain the "kicker" to me.

[shadowman]

Jacks or Better is worthless. If you are playing for nothing except Royals you are leaving a lot of money on the table. Start with DB, move up to DDB and TDB and the other members of the BP family. I know several VP professionals who can't believe anyone still plays Jacks or Better.
 
JOB is not more or less worthless than any other game. That includes all the games you mentioned. Each game has an expected return (ER) based on the pay table for that game. In many cases JOB will have a higher ER than DB/DDB/TDB in a given casino. Playing the lower ER game will lead to higher expected losses over time.
 
That said, many recreational gamblers find JOB less FUN and therefore are willing to lose more for the excitement of DB/DDB/TDB etc.
 
PS. VP professionals generally look for the best expected value (EV) and will play whatever game available to get the best results.

[shadowman]

 The kicker card is a hold over strategy from the table game of poker.  An ace has no value of it's own.  When I see somebody holding a Ace kicker while playing Dueces Wild, it tells me that the individual does not know how to play this game correctly.
 
There are some bonus deuces wild games where keeping the ace as a kicker IS the correct play. For example, both Bonus Deuces Wild and Super Bonus Deuces Wild have situations where keeping the ace kicker is the correct play.
 
On the other hand, for the standard deuces wild games you are absolutely correct.