Re: This is only relevant if you use 2G
The existence of a few towers doesn't mean phones should still support it. I expect the modem Apple is working on will support LTE and 5G only, both to make the task easier and reduce the patent royalties and because the number of places that will have no LTE or 5G but are covered by 3G let alone 2G will be basically nonexistent by fall 2022 or 2023 when it is expected to appear.
Qualcomm will probably leave that stuff in forever because it is like real mode or segments in a modern x86 processor - it is easier to leave that stuff in there and not touch than try to remove it and worry about unknown dependencies.
Biting the hand that feeds IT
