I started a new Minecraft world after a long time, the last time being shortly after the update that added the new cave biomes and changed world generation and I'm instantly reminded of how useless copper is. Can't make tools with it, can't light torches with it, can't use it as fuel, and it's all over the depths you'd typically find iron and coal, the two early ores that actually do those things 
Copper is great with mods that add electrical stuff and bronze. But beyond that yeah garbage why did they add it
I bet someone at Mojang was just sick of every mod pack having five different incompatible copies of copper.