Nearly every iOS user has a folder called called "junk" to deal with apps they don't want on their home-screen but also can't uninstall. This isn't an edge case at all...
I have the Pocket app installed on my iPhone, because I want to be able to share stuff to Pocket, but I don't ever actually use the Pocket app to read stuff.
Then there are utility apps, such as the app that I used to setup my wifi, that I rarely open but still want to keep around in case something goes wrong.
There's all sorts of reasons to have apps installed but not showing in the most prime real estate in the world.
Note that these apps actually do something in some cases, like I have a Twitter app (Chirp) where I'm pretty sure the heavy lifting happens on my phone and the watch just does the display.
> Finally, a way to remove apps from the home screen without uninstalling them
You're talking about a different problem.
The solution in your case is surely to allow the apps to be uninstalled!