It seems that at least in some cases when I ask "Does this thing have a purpose?" the kind of answer I'm looking for includes "someone deliberately created it" ...

... for a purpose? Was, but is no more, valuable for someone? Was a byproduct of something valuable? Honestly, this comment confuses me. If there's some insight to be had from it, as many people seem to think, I'd be happy if someone explained it to me, because apparently I'm too simple to get it.

If "Does life have a purpose?" is like this, whether or not other people value my life wouldn't to be relevant to answering it.

What would satisfy the question if life was created for a purpose but has later become obsolete for its creator?