Yes, they do serve a useful purpose.
So do the 9 folks who wear the black robes and interpret the Constitution.
A number of those groups of 9 have repeatedly made it known that natural born requires two citizen parents.
Never has such an opinion RESTED on the “two citizen parents” requirement if the person in question was born in the United States.
That facts are mentioned in a ruling does NOT make those facts controlling in the decision.
Basic law, but that is over the heads of most birthers.