Did the Republican Primaries Even Matter?

From its start the Republican presidential primary race has seemed utterly pointless, like a table full of office workmates rehashing where to eat lunch, even as they're wolfing down what they already decided to eat. With Donald Trump almost certain to win the nomination - in spite of, or because of, spewing Nazi-style vitriol about poisoned national bloodlines and left-wing vermin - and with all of his final-round competitors in lockstep with the MAGA agenda, what is there to say?