I think word problems are a good way to connect math to real life because they give students a chance to practice using math in situations they might actually encounter (ie., money problems). The Babylonian examples show that word problems don't have to be completely realistic to be useful. Some of the grain pile problems Eleanor Robson describes are likely impractical, but they still are opportunities to practice mathematical methods. The idea that some problems were chosen because they could be solved by the methods available reminded me of the “nice numbers” we often see in word problems today, even if those numbers can be outrageous.
I also think word problems can help students understand methods more intuitively. Similar to rhetorical algebra, where unknowns described in words can be easier for students to digest than variables. Word problems can help us think about an unknown quantity in a way that feels more natural before we move to symbols.
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