In my experience, HR departments are generally staffed with people who couldn’t get any other kind of job, since they have no common sense or usable skills.
Case in point where I work now; HR had all the parking spots in front of our building marked as reserved and came out with a memo on who could use them. None of the people who are allowed to use them come to this particular building very often, so nearly the entire front lot is empty, making it look like the place is out of business. They don’t see any problem with this. Meanwhile, the 100+ people who work in this building are required to park in the back and walk a couple hundred yards to the front door, the only entrance.
I don’t doubt you for a second. Most of the people in today’s HR departments are probably non-essential.