Ofc lights have a legitimate purpose.
They are absolutely paramount to read safety (fuck cars tho for that safety even being in question - even tho I like cars, I want trains too or at least cars on trains).

I can't imagine having a car with incandescent lights anymore (like with lots of other tech - like tires).

I use fog lights (first back, then front) if I literally can't see taillights in front of me at like a bit over 50(-ish)m & reduced speed.

I love high beams too, it gives me so much better side-of-the-road awareness (animals), but I also have one finger on the (adaptive) button all the time in case the camera fails & starts closing the gap on a car (no, I don't have an IR camera :/).

It's also stupid how like 20+ (25+?) year old cars have adaptive high beams (where they don't shine in other cars), automatic leveling of headlights (to prevent what OP posted), and even IR cameras (with ppl & animal spotting & even highlighting), etc - and the auto industry just kept it all as an expensive add-on for so many years (things changed slowly, but it's still not standard).

At least the lawmakers mandated auto-emergency-braking on new cars (again after 20 years).

Oh, another example, the French had adaptive (non- high beam) headlights to see around the corner in 1967, yet this is still not mandated.

Modern are ofc better - and perhaps fill the purpose you mention you use fog lights for.

I have the factory fog lamps (they're pretty low) on whenever the low beams are on. I have abysmal night vision and live in a rural area.