Steering column upper bearing replacement

I do tend to question factory engineering's hows and whys. In most cases there is a practical reason for. So for this part... what it bolts to isn't exactly substantial. How much its two outer corners/all of this would move in a collision could be their call for additional linear support, be it just one side or both.
I know this part was altered pretty much as you suggest in much later models but... I think maybe l saw additional piece bolted to side of the supporting part above too. My memory fails but I think for those later models, the brake lamp switch was mounted in that extra/added piece making it easier to service. We don't have the later example to verify any of this. Can't wreck them to test either.