Yeah, until you want to progress further than i230 in this patch. Then OH WAIT, suddenly Savage is the only way to get better gear.
By your logic everything in this game is optional. Technically it is by definition of a theme park MMO. I could say farming tomes for your Lore gear is optional, going into Midas NM for 220 is optional. Fact is, if you actually want to play the game, it's not. Not really. Just like Savage.
Savage SCoB literally had nothing to gain from it other than a title. The coffers dropped exactly the same loot as regular SCoB.
