Biter Biscuits? I Don't Get It.

I would like someone to explain to me the concept of biter biscuits. We've used them with all three kids, and giving one to our baby girl before dinner reminded me why they make no sense. They are for babies who can't eat solids. Yet shortly after coming into contact with their saliva, large pieces break off in their mouths. They gag and choke until I stick my finger in my baby's mouth to get the chunks out, but it usually comes at the cost of some crunching on my finger. On top of being life- and finger- threating, they are a mess. They melt in your hands, not in your mouth. The explanation I get for why we use them? They keep babies quiet and happy so that we can eat. Big problem: babies don't have the motor skills to keep hold of them for very long. Dinner is spent playing catcher while our daughter involuntarily plays pitcher.