Unpopular opinion: rice in a burrito is filler and we all know it

I'll take the downvotes. Rice is in there because it's the cheapest thing on the line and it makes the burrito look bigger than it is. Take it out and you get more of everything you actually came for.

I know the counterargument is texture and holding moisture. I'm not fully convinced. Every burrito I've had that skipped the rice was better, and the only ones that felt wrong were the ones where they didn't add anything back in its place.

Change my mind. What is rice actually doing in there that something else couldn't do better?