Protection from predators and (as best can be managed) from disease. Supplemental food when foraged resources are insufficient. Protection from extreme weather. We spend millions of dollars researching how to combat bee diseases. They've been glorified since antiquity (go look up all the old manuscripts where they've illustrated people dressing up like bees). Nothing weird about it even if it is a fantasy. Humanity likes the honey bee.

>It's not a deal.

We will spend fortunes and invent new science to prevent their extinction. Whether they understand it or not, they grabbed a real bargain.

> Supplemental food when foraged resources are insufficient.

Foraged resources are generally sufficient. We are taking away honey before winter and that is why they lack foos in winter and have to be supplemented.

I mean, big threst to bees are pesticides and other human generated threats. They only reason extinction could be an issue ... are humans.