> Well, there isn't much use for a navy in a land war with Russia anyway.

Read Tom Clancy's 1980s novel Red Storm Rising, which seemed pretty realistic to me. (Former U.S. Navy carrier officer here.)

Navies are mighty handy for keeping shipping going. And you don't know how resupply & logistics will play out for any given conflict.

Boomers were also the force of last resort in MAD.