Don't let the topic fool you, I find pickles to be tastefully exotic in small quantities. But the question remains: Do they serve an actual purpose?
Most often you will find a pickle served with a sandwhich from a resteraunt. Where this tradition started and why, I do not know. I think we can all agree the pickle in no way compliments said sandwich. Furthermore, aside from relish, I can't think of any recipes which require a pickle.
Perhaps pickels are just misunderstood, like so many others things in this crazy world of ours. If they were to disappear tomorrow, would anyone notice?