[andrewflnr]

That's giving evolution far too much credit. The same logic would tell you the appendix has some secret critical function.

[_alternator_]

It does. The appendix is probably a reservoir for repopulating your microbiome with a “backup copy” after particularly nasty stomach bugs.

https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC12128343/

[andrewflnr]

I know. I said critical function for a reason. If you can remove it, it's not critical.

The point is, "but evolution" is a weak argument to justify any particular feature of an entity facing selection pressure. The laryngeal nerve detour would have been a better example but I wanted to stay accessible.