I've spent the coin token to open Baker on 4/3, on a whim. I see what you mean when you say this isn't a great plan, because you spend a coin token to get a card that gives you the coin token back sometime during your second shuffle. Tying up your free coin token for an extra cantrip during your second shuffle? The benefits of spending the coin token to open Baker seems marginal when you put it that way.
I can tell you about a game I just played where I did that though. It was was a Goons game where the only way to play more than 1 terminal a turn was with necropolis, and my opponent was able to open Goons/nothing. I opened Baker/Forager because who knew when I would be able to get to $6 if I had to worry about Goons so early, and I was firm about not getting any terminals besides Goons. It was still a good game for a green-less Goons deck due to the presence of Sage, and Wishing Well was there too.
Sorry for the anecdote, but it's an example of the thin-deck rationale can could be used to justify such a move, even if it wasn't the correct play at all.
Of course, opening Baker without spending any coin tokens is a different story. Then we're talking about 2 coin tokens during the second shuffle, which can really help you get to 5$ or whatever more consistently.