I guess, like so many other things over the years, it was designed for a specific purpose (most likely beating back the onslaught of tanks rolling across the plains of Germany).
When that purpose was perceived to be no longer there, or the measures brought in to counter it made the purpose no longer as effective/efficient/ cost effective in men and machines then it becomes fair game for the bean counters.
When the battle is "we need to keep it in case X happens again" someone with budget to cut will always say "but that will never happen, scrap it".
