I think the answer to a) and b) is actually quite obvious: we are not an automaton that simply eats when the need arises. The experience of hunger decouples our

I think the answer to a) and b) is actually quite obvious: we are not an automaton that simply eats when the need arises. The experience of hunger decouples our behavior from the need to eat, and we can plan according to the strength of our hunger relative to other needs. We are not an automaton that simply eats a strawberry because it is edible. We are decision making organisms that can adjust the composition of our diet based on the chemical properties of the food. We can presume that there is an evolutionary advantage to being able to taste and therefore select from multiple dietary options. It is clear that the conscious experiences as described are extremely subtle forms of information that allow us to plan and make decisions based on the information they provide us, and not simply blindly react to the world, and I think it is pretty obvious that that is a massive advantage and also more in line with my experience as a conscious being.