Things do happen that cannot be seen, heard or even smelled up in the scoring tower. Yes a flagman will use all three of those senses at one time or another.
Also, a good flagman does add to the show and is part of the show.
Some tracks can probably get by without a flagman. Some tracks have a flagstand so high that the drivers never see any of the flags Not all tracks however. Some tracks need those eyes "on the ground". And other tracks will improve if they fired the flagman and did without. But I won't go there.
