You are thinking of operations within a centrally controlled, trusted entity. This is useful for things that happen between entities that don't necessarily trust each other and don't have control of each other's data. Data interoperability, dealing with sketchy vendors, and chain of ownership through many companies, nations, or even departments within large organizations are huge problems that an insane amount of money is thrown at. There is a lot of value in a database of facts that no-one controls and everyone can trust.