This is necessary. Wet leaves are slippery (don’t ask me how I know.) They invite vermin, not to mention ticks. They can get moldy. They block storm drains. As far as leaf-blowers go, the lithium-ion battery ones aren’t awful. I still use a rake, but my raking days are numbered, so I mow them (cheaty mulch.) I hope I can stay leaf-blower independent, but if I need one, I’ll buy one. I don’t want wet slimy moldy leaves around my house.