"Value" determined in terms of economics is an economism, it is a very specific (and modern) way of viewing the world. It is not the resolution for why society has many of the things it does, nor in my opinion should it be. Where's the value in philosophy, or writing comments on Hacker News? Reading books and writing poetry? Spending time with the family?

> Do they provide any value?

Yes. In fact, they provide "invaluable" emotional value.

> Do they generate profit at least?

Some do, after all they are like any other low margin business.

They make quiet and peaceful neighbors in all seriousness - aside from desire to visit having the land set aside, undeveloped, and more noise than the occasional sobbing and crying of a funeral being viewed as taboo is itself contributes to things that some people want in residential areas. People differ in preferences of course.

same reason golf courses exist