"It is completely irrelevant whether string theory has any significance or meaning as a physical theory, "
You have to just re-read that statement and let it sink in, because that right there is the primary evidence the the depth of the delusion.
And you have it upside down: that 'some good can come from' it - is the 'irrelevant' part.
String Theory is a fraud.
It's literally a conspiracy theory.
Thousands of PhDs and absolutely gigantic scientific focus, decades of attention away from more plausible concepts.
Conferences, papers, Academic careers.
10's of thousands of Academics and an order of magnitude more students and others, sucked into the vortex of something that is not real.
Were all of that to have been prefaced and presented in a different way, were it not so self serious, were there not as much attention and investment - then that'db be totally fine. As an arcane pursuit, in all 'self awarenees' - then we can say 'it produced great math.'
Your comment is very strong evidence of the depth of the deception - that people would justify it in the same breadth as admitting it's likely total fabrication.
By far the most interesting thing about String Theory is the 'social pheomenon' - how charismatic movement leaders, loyal lieutenants, gullible followers, hapless adminstrators, people tryig to sell books and stories ... systematically collude to promote a constant falsehood.
This false under the 'Big Lie' type of misrepresentation - a lie that is so big nobody could fathom anyone would be so incredulous as to say it. Not a purposeful lie mind you, I'm sure everyone involved were 'believers', but where it has the same effect.
None of the 'math' that String Theory will ever be hugely important.
String Theory's 'contribution' is the breadth of the misrepresentation - it will be looked back upon for centuries as a phenomenon, not a theory.