How To Replace your Lower Column Bearing: Better and Cheaper!!!

Why did the factory even put a bearing there when you got a roller bearing up top, and a steering box bearing on the bottom to support the entire steering shaft? Only thing I can think of is the steering column assembly shipped with this pitiful support on the bottom to do 2 things: Keep the shaft semi rigid for transport and assembly line handling, and to stop hot air and road crap from entering the bottom of the steering column. I cant see a 3rd support bearing even needed if they were pinching pennies.