Can anyone identify a benefit associated with its removal?

This strikes me as daft - I didn't use it every time, as normally I can gather up passport/keys/phone and replace my belt without holding up the main tray reclaim roller area. My rule however is that if said area is already more than 50% occupied by others repacking/re-belting then I carry my tray to the repack area to avoid causing an obstruction. I did so just two days ago at TFW.