A possible explanation for differences in American steward practice is cultural resistance to work resembling personal service. That explanation remains tentative. Captains, executive officers, and senior ratings are critical to the ship's functioning, yet heavy workloads can lead them to neglect their own food and welfare. Assigning someone to look after those needs protects the people whose exhaustion could disrupt the whole ship.
Notable Point · 2:17:34-2:18:51
Stewards protect the critical people who keep a ship functioning
Steward support protects senior personnel whose neglected food and welfare can impair the ship's functioning.