Smooth text cursors are something I've always liked, but I don't think I can correctly describe why it is so to a person who has never found it nice, plus a nice thing won't always be useful. I think we need to understand what humans are becoming relative to what we were to answer why smooth text cursors may be useful. In the past, there was much less responsibility on a single person or entity as of today. For example, let's take street lamps, a daily tool that has been in use for a while. Street lamps in towns not only illuminated the shops, but also served as an expression of art.  Modern street lamps, as of today, are dull, grey, and very lifeless - reduced solely for their primary purpose. I assume that this is because we have started asking the reason 'why something was done' more often. It's just too hard to explain art and beauty to a board of people that want stuff that "just works". The government won't care about artistic expression ...