Origins for the creation of a practice need not be the reasons it continues to exist today, unless we're mindless lemmings just copying what every previous administration did. (That may well be the case though)
The track record of a practice should be taken in account when considering removing them. As mentioned, this one in particular is part of a very well designed system of checks and balances. As with any power, it can be misused; the president, however, has many other powers that can be misused in much more spectacular ways.