The more you finish in the higher legal spots and maintain that sort of position over successive seasons the greater chance you have of winning trophies sooner or later. The only fans who don't think finishing as high as possible is important are those who don't understand that it's all part of the progression. We stay on the track we are of gradual improvement then trophies will be coming sooner or later, and more than once. So yeah, the prize for finishing as high as possible may be indirect, but if you can maintain the consistency then statistics show you'll earn a trophy sooner or later.