It takes up inventory space but it does bank roll vendor purchases or fuel crafting supplies. But they rarely give you a decent weapon.
If I got more AR’s, smg’s, it would give me choice from weapons I use, because neither shot guns or snipers suit the way I play the game.
My other character had a project where you donate 10 assault rifles, did not find one, bought several, crafted the rest, but dozens of caches , not 1 AR.
Nice question, I dropped so many aswell and good ones too. Same as Division 1 like the game wanted me to use sniper rifles that I don't like that much but I was kinda forced to play the Marksman SpecMy wife on the other hand dropped tons of assault rifles and LMGs, so I guess it's just the chaos at work.