"Useless features being dust covers and forward assist. Unless your dragging your AR through the sand in Iraq why the hell would you need a dust cover? B/c you go to the range then stick it back in the gun safe after lol. The forward assist was not even an original feature of the AR, it was something that was added later on. If the round has not seated properly jamming it in w/ the forward assist is not going to help. Id rather drop the mag and remove the round and properly chamber it again."

The forward assist isn't used very often, but it can be useful if the bolt fails to lock due to a dirty chamber/bolt if it's necessary to discharge another round.