Afaik some where still used in space probes in the 2000’s.

It’s not new. Every time a computer comes with a “free trial” for a virus scanner, cloud subscription service, office software or other crap ware the manufacturer gets a cut when the user converts to the paid version after the trial.

The CMOS battery has maybe 100mA and lasts 5 years. A laptop battery has at least 400x the capacity, it would not drain in a few days.