I'd say some things for me personally aren't so important, others - mostly world-breaking ones - are. Some people like discussing certain aspects, even if they aren't entirely important. For some people, the immersion of the game-world becomes apart of the enjoyment of the game and its respective series. Fallout does well to attract this type of gamer, it's just that FO3 also attracts a shooter fanbase that don't mind so much about lore and history, consistency etc.

Maybe the creator thought to make some fun of the crippling nuclear fear that had the entire nation buliding bomshelters and staking up on food.