The NFL Hall of Fame Game has been going on since 1962 - long before Goodell became the Commish...
Yes, in a sense the pre-season represents glorified scrimmage games, but based upon how certain players do in the pre-season, it may determine whether or not they get to stay in the NFL - so for those players, a lot is at stake.
I only watch the first quarter of many pre-season games. I watch the entire games of the teams I follow closest to see how the rookies fare, and to see how players perform in contested positions.
ADG