Not 'stupid' at all, they are bent slightly outwards to hold the chips in the board once placed there by component insertion machines on assembly lines, the spring effect from the pins means the chips hold themselves accurately in place and can't bounce out.
For the same reason SM devices are glued down by the 'insertion' machines.
Although I agree, for our 'manual' techniques, it's somewhat of a pain
However, the pins certainly don't 'break very easily' (and I've never heard of anyone been so clumsy as to break one
) - it sounds like you haven't thought how best to do it?. Personally I place the chip on the bench, on it's side, and bend all the pins at the same time by rolling the chip slightly.