Good point! I suggest fishing spears if only to grief the players who are begging for spears as a melee weapon in ESO.
But more seriously: a spear mechanic at least would have an element of skill to aim at the fish and account for refraction - or something. Not just pure chance.
Anything that is 100% chance and just wasting time, with no meaningful way for the player to influence the odds. For example, how fishing is implemented in some MMOs like ESO: you can eat a buff food and use the correct bait for the water, but beyond that you’re just waiting in agony until the random timer dings. Then you do that 12 times before moving to the next hole, etc. “Waiting” isn’t an enjoyable mechanic.
I don’t mind that fishing exists and I understand many people enjoy it as a kind of zen. I personally would enjoy it more if it were more engaging.
You’re right, I could just choose to ignore it if it has nothing of value to me.
However, at least in ESO, tons of achievements and rewards are locked behind fishing activities. I could ignore their as well, but I would prefer if I could enjoy a more engaging fishing mini game (like their scrying is tedious but at least you’re actively doing something).