Well said. I don't even know why they're bothering to do this, unless it's for the drama. Does it really matter that much if a contestant comes in #5 or #9? As long as they're in the Top 10, they can go on the tour, and the type of career they have afterwards depends largely on their genre of music, luck, and/or the career choices they make.
That may be their real hedge, considering how close they came to being stuck with Amanda Overmeyer instead of Kristee Lee Cook last year for that #10 spot.
Tactically, from a "19E" standpoint, the best time to use the "save" would be on the 11-to-10 cutdown, to rescue someone they'd want to have on the tour. Then, the following week (when they will cut two), they'll find some way to simply pick which of the two to leave off the tour.