There are however certain scenarios where fastboot is the only feasible way to get a custom recovery loaded to your device from which you can then root, backup or install a custom ROM.
You don't even need bootloader (fastboot) to flash a custom recovery since Mediatek has SP Flash tool and Spreadtrum has Research / Upgrade download tool amidst several Chinese boxes. Unlike in some other devices, you don't necessarily need to unlock the bootloader to flash a custom ROM to your Mediatek (MTK), Spreadtrum (SPD) Android phone.
