I've never thought of them as stupid. They are essentially "Names" for airports and Runways. The runway numbers are particularly useful, because they are derived by the magnetic heading of that Runway, so the name of it alone provides pilots with usable information in the moment.

Example: VFR Pilot calls 5 miles inbound to the airport with no information. I greet him say, "(Callsign) AskMeAnything Tower, wind 270 at 10, make a right base for runway 25."

Pilot knows immediately I am setting him up with the duty runway and a good wind touchdown.