I say physics is not only about predicting the future, but understanding the past and the present. Your view of physics is too limiting.
my view of physics include looking at the past for predicting the future,
if it is to have any purpose,
and if it is not used to predict the future,
its merely "for the hell of it"
life is about survival, and to survive, we need to see to the future first and foremost, and the only purpose of looking at the past, is to predict the future.
of course, one could assign "finding our origins" a purposeful pursuit,
but in my humblest of opinions, its mostly just for the hell of it.
unless it causes sleepless nights not knowing where we all came from, which could be detrimental to your health, which ultimately would result in a shortening of your lifespan.
cause and effect.
oh and present is such a tiny slice of reality, as to merely mattering at all.