The idea
As almost every home has one there is really not much point in licencing it. It would be better for the government to create the credit necessary and give it to the BBC or find some other way of funding it.
On top of that there would be no need to send detector vans out to track down defaultors and drag them into court, which must cost even more money, and court time, both of which could be used for more productive reasons.
Why is it important?
Saving money and cutting red tape.