Well that’s monkey see monkey do. One printer company includes some stupid software that replicates Windows functionality, then one computer magazine includes that in the list of “features” when comparing various printers and of course nobody else has that checkmark and now EVERYBODY adds that to their next round of drivers.
It’s all about the checkboxes and the need to be all things to all people.
Again, it’s not the availability of the “software”, it’s being forced to use it, when it uses resources, doesn’t actually do anything I need, and being closed source could have any amount of spyware in it without me knowing.
That still wouldn't stop them from writing software to satisfy clueless customers who think useless software burning RAM and CPU time and phoning home without providing any actual functionality is a good thing to have. Then they could even sell it to you for $9.95 online instead of giving it away for free with the printer like now. Or still give it away if they're afraid of PC Mag giving them a rash for selling separately.