Holding on to thin ends just for length - Is it really worth it?

I was 7 months post relaxer in this picture

I have a camera that I used in religiously documenting my progress as a relaxed lady when I first began my hair journey back in 2011; somehow I lost the battery while charging it (don't ask) and I only managed to buy a new one last month. So I switch on my camera for the first time in over a year and all these pictures from the start of my hair journey are there - bringing back a slew of memories of how I would obsess over every single thing that pertained to my hair lol!!

The one thing I notice now, is how I was doggedly holding on to raggedy ends just because of that extra 'length' they gave me. My hair was growing no doubt, but it looked so limp because of those tired, thin, stringy looking ends.