[oakashes]

> Counting calories. Say your weight is stable and you start eating a single extra piece of sandwich bread every day. After a year, you’ll gain 3.8 kg (8.3 lb) of fat. Almost no one counts calories that accurately.

I'd argue that one big benefit of counting calories is that it teaches you that a single piece of sandwich bread contributes a surprisingly high amount of calories to your diet. This potentially empowers you to minmax your plate with the things that will get you the most enjoyment/satiation for your calories.

[Freedom2]

Yes. Counting calories is not about being accurate or precise, it's about being cognizant of the calorie value of different foods.