I wouldn't agree. First to tackle the colour part, having a tie in a nice color offers a great accent to the larger canvas which allows you to use bolder colours then when applying it to the entire shirt.

And for the practicality I find myself half freezing to death this time a year when I walk to work without a tie (around 45°F/8°C with brisk winds). Having a tie efficiently blocks the wind from entering the chest area through the button seams and around the neck without requiring me to bring a bulky scarf (which is very unpleasant in the afternoon when temperatures have risen to about 70°F/21°C.

>And for the practicality I find myself half freezing to death this time a year when I walk to work without a tie (around 45°F/8°C with brisk winds).

That's why they invented this thing called a "jacket".

I usually already wear a jacket, I'm talking about wind entering the chest area.

All the jackets I've ever had have a zipper in front. You zip them up, and wind doesn't get in. It's far more protection than a silly little piece of silk cloth tied around your neck.