This pipe cutter is a great idea! I have loppers, but a lot of time those long handles are just too awkward to get in where I need to go. Pipe cutter would work great for pruning/thinning shrubs/roses.
Along the same lines, I keep a few putty knives around for weeding. They are cheap ($1 at Dollar Tree), durable, and great for scraping out weeds and even digging small planting holes and making furrows.