Most likely they are "as you said a waste of time " because conventionally forked coins are being created in order to solve a problem in the main coin ( which is incapable to resolve that problem "at least temporarily " ), & because cryptos are in a permanent improvement process , mother coins are being more intended to resolve these problems ( such as fees , confirmation time ...)
If that the case, then probably forked coin is useless knowing that this is not incapable in resolving a problem. Where in, many are expected that it can resolved but the truth is not. So, its really a waste of time either.