I've gotten used to the android VLC functionality where it simply offers to play what is in storage. I'm not quite wrapping my head around what would be lost,

I've gotten used to the android VLC functionality where it simply offers to play what is in storage. I'm not quite wrapping my head around what would be lost, why it matters, and why the playlist can't just be another object in storage. I am constantly amazed that high-quality independent open-source projects like VLC are maintained so well, year after year.