Star Trek Beyond pays homage to TOS

[M'Sharak]

I vaguely remember someone making a comment about how it served no purpose, but I can't remember who said it. .

Lindelof acknowledged that it was gratuitous.

 

[JKM]

I think it was JJ that said something about it in the Compendium but I could be wrong. I might work up enough curiosity to look it up later.