Why are steroids important, even though they tend to have a bad reputation?

Cholesterol is a steroid that is an important component of plasma membranes that surround animal cells. Plants have similar things called phytosterols that form in plant cell membranes. Cholesterol converts into a number of compounds like vitamin D. Steroids control the development of sexual traits and sex cells TLDR: Important in plasma membranes, converts into compounds like vitamin D, controls development of sexual traits and sex cells.