What's the point of Shinies?

What's the point of living?

As far as I can see, we just take up the Earth's storage space

Collection and bragging rights. The second point is pretty much rendered moot thanks to them being handed out like candy, unless the contest is to see who can catch the most.

Probably nostalgia from the main games, where they're actually incredibly rare.

Also, some of them do look cooler. Shiny Metagross looks super cool for example.

To keep you logging in and catching pokemon

Although this doesn't fully answer the question having rare shinys could allow you to get trades with other trainers for pokemon /moves that you want, for example I missed chicorita community day, but I managed to trade a shiny tailow for a frenzy plant meganium to use in the great league.

It's a collection thing. They don't different in any way performance from a nonshiny with the same I vs and moveset at the same level.

Some like the shinys color more than the standard, and sometimes it's the other way.

They are used for trade leverage at times, I've traded shiny togepi for legacy dragonite for example

No point, the majority of players seem to absolutely crazy for them... They aren’t really rare and bragging about something that requires zero skill and is entirely luck based makes you kinda look like a complete tool.... I gotta admit I do get a bit of a thrill when I catch one... Mmmm maybe they do have a point after all....

I like fighting with a Silver-looking Metagross than a plain blue one.

This is another perspective of Shiny rather for collection purpose.

If you're worried about space they are logged in your pokedex. There is no real advantage to have a shiny over it's normal colored counterpart but collecting shinys is another thing you can do.

My opinion: Try for them, 20 Latias raids=ok, but 50 Latias raids is trying too much. If you get one and/or a shiny Groudon; Lugia, etc proof that you are a very consistent player that also has a bit of luck. Main one I’m missing is the shiny Lugia.

The game's slogan is "Gotta Catch Em' All" so you just gotta. Don't ask questions.

The point of shinies is to serve as variable intermittent reinforcement schedule, thereby promoting persistent play. They also increase demand for storage space, thereby increasing coin purchases and driving up revenue.

Or wait, I guess you meant for players, not Niantic?

My take on Shinies, it's nice when it happens, but I don't stress if I don't catch one on release, they don't help you in raids or PvP & don't save you dust like Luckies. We are all different tho & if collecting Shinies is your thing, then nothing wrong with that at all.

There is no point in putting a 13.1 bumper sticker on your car, yet people do that.

There is a negative to shinies, they cost a lot more to trade. Not sure there is a positive.

This is a ridiculous question. There's no "usefulness" in them unless their species is already useful to begin with. It's all cosmetics. If you don't have a need for them then toss them instead of playing dumb here to try to stir some controversy.

That sweet dopamine rush through my tiny little ape brain whenever I see a sparkle