Sure, there's an ESSENTIAL role for leadership. When I served on an LHA there were 4 Chiefs (E7 and E8) in the Communications Dept. PLUS the CommO and 5 E-6. That's pretty top-heavy for 50 man team.
And none of the Chief's actually DID anything besides hang out, sign the Watch Rotations developed by the E-6's.
Worse, none of them was current on the technology of the day.
But man 0 man they could tell stories about whoring in Subic Bay!
LOL! Yep, that is my experience with chiefs. Their main talents were telling sea stories and drinking coffee.
I work with a retired chief. He’s one of the best co-workers I’ve ever had. He tells some great stories. I’ll show him this and I bet he’d agree with you.