Why are Android apps constantly trying to "access the list of installed apps"?

Why are Android apps constantly trying to "access the list of installed apps"?
Even apps that are FOSS and supposedly privacy-respecting do this.

I have this permission disabled, but I'm curious *why* they are doing this.
Is it for nefarious purposes, or is there a legitimate reason?

In the "Permission restriction history" in my settings, this permission is by far the one that apps try to access the most:

5/4: Bible Study tried to access the list of installed apps …

access android android apps apps privacy