It's the fact that there is a history that matters. Also, one can use the history as an indicator of the future even if not a predictor.
Undoubtedly, I agree that knowledge of history can be useful for present and future understanding and direction, HOWEVER, I fail to see how evolution is at all "knowable" since the "mechanism of change" is as great and multifaceted as all of existence itself.
Philosophically it seems that we can only know/understand evolution when we are able to know/understand the universe. Why not just eliminate the redundant evolution powder keg and set about understanding the existing cosmos - that alone should take an eternity - and I think would yield greater benefits to mankind.