I think it makes more sense if you consider that there are two drivers: the human is one, and arguably would be better served by the tried and true IR sensor that everyone here wants. But the other is the computer, looking through the front camera assembly. The optics and POV of the camera, right up against the upper windshield, mean that rain and dirt have a different effect on the computer's vision then on the human's vision.
So, even if the industry standard solution were adopted (even if free), it would still be just as necessary to develop the AI response network to keep the computer vision adequately clear and functional.
There is obviously a fair amount of commonality between the computer's windshield-clearing needs and the human's (which is why you and many others think it's "pretty OK"), but not full commonality (hence the frequent complaints).
Remember also that it's not a matter of "I'm not even using Autopilot, so don't bother me". Tesla cannot choose to disable the camera clearing needed for AEB or other accident-avoidance features, so logically it's a moot point whether AP/FSD is engaged.
Considering all that, I conclude that the camera-driven AI auto-wiper functionality is not at all superfluous or misguided, but in fact required - unavoidable. The next and separate question is, should Tesla have kept the IR sensor anyway, just for the bio-driver?
Maybe, but the reasoning above would dictate that those who think the wipers are too aggressive would still be annoyed - it's what the computer vision needs, in situations where a few sprinkled droplets right in front of the camera are occluding its vision.
The only aspect that would become better with a backup IR sensor, would be situations where the computer is satisfied but the human wants More Faster Wipers (aka "run the MF Wipers"
). These are the situations that require the driver to periodically goose the wipers with a manual button-press. Not the end of the world, but I do think a little algorithm could be written (I think I could do it but then it wouldn't be an NN) to pick up on "N wiper requests over the prior M seconds" and to adjust accordingly.