Heater Box Design - Lame?

My '72 has a valve for the engine coolant to the core, and I seem to remember several at the salvage yards having them. Mine is an AC car, if that matters?

I seem to remember from my AC classes that some systems cool the air to get the moisture out (condensation on the evaporator?), then heat it, so maybe there's a reason the heat is on all the time?
YES A/C cars had a valve