Image customization
In an enterprise environment with many legacy applications and department configurations, deploying an image preconfigured and set up for the user makes a lot of sense. Standing up an MDT environment in an enterprise is a relatively easy task (usually, it takes more change in control/security procedures than actual install/setup time) that can be completed in an afternoon in most cases. Customizing the image is best done with reproducible tooling, and MDT will help with that as you can modify the default user profile.
This can be done for branding purposes or application delivery that stores itself entirely within the user profile folder structure. Once the customizations are completed, the profile is captured as the default administrator profile, so future logons inherit the customization.
Imaging process
Once your image is baked, you can take it and deploy it with System Center Configuration Manager (SCCM) or MDT or even give it to an original equipment...