Exactly this. I feel like VNs are filled with these meaningless choices since by having them, it allows them to market the VN as a "game" and not a kinetic novel. But it also makes sense since it's really easy to deal with from the developer side of things. Instead of each choice leading to a different branching direction, all you have to do is write one story and temporarily branch out with these illusory choices that ultimately just funnel you back into the same direction. It's lazy, and imo a mockery of choice mechanics. You would be better off just not even having choices, or better yet, only including choices when they actually matter.