At least I think that's what they are called.

Anyway, a lot of shoes and boots come with these little tabs laced into the bottom of the laces. On my Chippewa boots, it runs the entire length of the tongue, sticks out past the laces, and appears to have the function of covering the joint where the tongue attaches to the boot (an extra layer of water-proofing?).

Is it actually functional? ...or just decorative?

How many of you would leave it in?