7.5.4 (Cross-reference table): is the linked list of reusable free entries still relevant?

[stechio]

Modern PDF usage seems to make the linked list of reusable free entries almost obsolete, as compressible objects (i.e., any indirect object other than streams (and Length entry of object streams) — see subclause 7.5.7 (Object streams)) don't allow recycled entries (generation number must be zero) and, moreover, the de-facto reference implementation (Acrobat 6.0 and later) does "not use the free list to recycle object numbers; new objects are assigned new numbers" (as stated by implementation note 16 in section H.3 of PDF Reference 1.7 by Adobe Inc.).

Because of such considerations, I wonder whether it still makes sense to keep the linked list of reusable free entries alive when writing PDF files, or all the entries freed ~by deleted objects~ [from objects deleted during an editing session]* can be simply marked as non-reusable (generation number 65,535). Is the linked list worth the burden of its maintenance?

EDIT

[*] clarification