And threat was an issue on most fights in Vanilla, and in TBC.
This was back when keeping threat was actually work, and you had people using "Causes high threat"-abilities to DPS. That is why it was relevant.
It also stacks a TC effect, making warriors not having to spec into improved TC, that causes points into mitigation.
There's a reason why any sensible top guild in the world would give this to the maintank first, then offtanks.