Does anyone have any idea what this is used for? Seems like a waste

First Impressions Can Be Misleading

A lot of objects that feel wasteful at first are actually designed for very specific situations. They may not be meant for daily use, mass appeal, or even the average household. Instead, they often serve:

• A niche professional purpose
• A safety or regulatory requirement
• A one-time or occasional task
• A convenience feature for a narrow audience

When taken out of that context, they can look completely unnecessary.

Common Reasons Items Like This Exist

Before dismissing it as waste, it helps to consider a few possibilities:

Specialized tools
Some items are made for industries like manufacturing, healthcare, construction, or transportation. Without seeing them in action, their value isn’t obvious.

Older designs
It could be a leftover from an earlier era — something that made sense before modern technology replaced it.

Efficiency over aesthetics
Designs that prioritize function over appearance often look strange or inefficient to outsiders.

Single-purpose items
Not everything is meant to do multiple jobs. Some objects exist to do one thing well, even if that thing is rarely needed.

When It Really Is a Waste

Of course, sometimes the instinct is right. There are products that:

• Solve problems that don’t really exist
• Use more material than necessary
• Are poorly designed or overengineered
• Exist mainly for marketing rather than practicality

In those cases, the confusion is justified — and it’s no surprise people question their purpose.