Without the finger cutting there is no movie, so you're friends the dumb one, and you can pass that along to them.

But seriously, the fingers are not only the stakes and conflict of the film, but touch at the deeper question; is it worth it to strive for immortality or to enjoy the time you have? And as Gleeson's character grapples with this question we have to wonder if the threat isnt actually a means of self-sabatage. Because without his fingers he cannot play the fiddle, therefore giving him an excuse of 'why he never did write that epic folk song' to his future self. Its easier to blame podrick for his failure than himself and likely why he set up the trap in the first place.