Gender nouns

Is there a point in nouns having a gender? I was always told it removes confusion, ironically the opposite is true for me anyway.

OK. Try this text:
"I took an egg and a spoon. They where both very clean. Then I hit the table with it."
With what did I hit the table? Without gender you can't say, you have to use former/latter.
In languages with noun genders it is much easier like:
"I took [it] egg and [she] spoon. They where both very clean. Then I hit [he] table with HER." (the spoon).