Do people care if your profile is validated or not ?

The validation thing is a little odd...

I don't understand the need for non-catfish status on a site that wasn't (as far as common knowledge goes) intended for hookups and/or dating.

To me, it doesn't.
All it proves is someone is who they say there are, in pictures. Although this is debatable when someone has good photoshop skills.
That never stopped a person from either being a form of catfish or a form of someone who can hurt another person.

I really don't pay much attention to that, I mostly talk to a handful of people I have known for a long time on here and from EP.

It doesn't here. I don't think everyone would be willing to link this account with their mailing accounts.

Some of the pictures that have been validated aren’t even clear. Not that I care. I just don’t get it.

No and it is very non-EP'ish for those who remember EP (Experience Project)

Not from my perspective