[thaumasiotes]

> What bad things would happen as a result of the non-existence of the gratuitous rule?

Chess would be a game of gotcha instead of the game it currently is.

The rule is there to support the preferences of the kind of people who think chess is fun.

[jancsika]

I feel as if I'm asking something fundamental that hasn't been considered by insiders. As if I asked music afficionados why Beethoven's Appassionata Sonata couldn't be performed in F-sharp minor and the response is something like, "Because arbitrarily changing the keys of sonatas would make a travesty of classical music, and performing the piece in F minor supports the preferences of the people who enjoy listening to classical music."

In other words, complete horseshit.

[thaumasiotes]

> I feel as if I'm asking something fundamental that hasn't been considered by insiders.

You're not. You're asking a stupid question and complaining that other people don't share your views on what makes a game fun.