this question is forever popping up.
i can see your point.... its aimed at the "all the gear and no idea" crew......
but my opinions is that if you cant appreciate their benefits as a seriously usefull bit of kit, in the appropriate conditions, then you have obviously never strayed from the beaten path and ventured out into the wilds..... or 0nly walk on sunny dry sunday afternoons.
water, ticks, twigs, stones, sand,forest floor mud, snow, bracken etc etc etc... and keeps the trouser clean for pint in any pub you pass.....
next you'll be saying gloves are for girls too....