[KMag]

Your post could be paraphrased as "It's obvious X isn't helpful because X isn't ancient and X isn't helpful. Why do people do/use X?"

Please use better logic. Also, fetishizing ancient things is an impediment to progress.

The long term survival of the human species in the presence of something is (weak) evidence that the thing isn't harmful, but the logical inversion isn't true. That is, the survival of the human species for a long time without something is neither a valid argument for nor against that thing's benefit.

[webwanderings]

Using or not using a so-called useless thing is not a question of human survival. Humans are consuming soda and it has been proven that it isn't HELPFUL. So the question is really about the continuous waste of time, resources and energy (in producing and consuming) versus that of the intent behind all these (time, resources and energy).

Unless of course you believe that producing/consuming Soda is HELPFUL in a sense that it is helpful towards economy (someone's making and people are consuming it). In this case, I have no argument here because the intent is clear enough.