I assumed the barcode is for automated scanning and sorting just like with shipping labels (as used by DHL, Fedex, UPS, ...) I did not read up on the reasoning

I assumed the barcode is for automated scanning and sorting just like with shipping labels (as used by DHL, Fedex, UPS, ...) I did not read up on the reasoning behind the barcode they used. What you tell here sounds more like someone asked their crypto-nut nephew what would be modern, which is indeed not needed at all.