It’s designed to make sure that the contact point with the back plate is reinforced.
That’s the point you don’t want to have fatigue or stress during shipping, etc since it breaking off there when it’s plugged into your wall would be a pain.
I suspect it’s mainly there for the shipment from the cord manufacturer to the company that made the product and there’s little benefit in removing it on their end when they can then ship it, cover and all, to their end consumer.
but then the three cover would be connected at the tip? otherwise the plastic is not strong enough to help against deforming?!
It’s designed to make sure that the contact point with the back plate is reinforced.
That’s the point you don’t want to have fatigue or stress during shipping, etc since it breaking off there when it’s plugged into your wall would be a pain.
I suspect it’s mainly there for the shipment from the cord manufacturer to the company that made the product and there’s little benefit in removing it on their end when they can then ship it, cover and all, to their end consumer.