Hey Thumpic, you are second guessing on Old stuff, and asking answers
about what choices of small parts some one else made . in the past.
why are you worried so? take it off and be done with it.
Yes, but that's not necessarily the optimum position for the wheel to maximize shifting performance.
..not so important, particularly on Friction shifted Bikes ..
You simply pay attention to where you put the axle in the dropout when the QR gets tightened.
they make pieces like that for those who dont have a care about that stuff,
you apparently do care, so its not required.
new bikes with Vertical Dropouts are benefitting the index shifting,
by having the wheel backin the same spot,
and if the QR is not really tight ,. the axle wont pull forward. ..
like can happen with Horizontal ones.