A fork simply ensures that the work put in to date is not lost.

That is probably the simplest way of describing it, while many can definitely add to what all it brings to the table, the simple fact of the matter is a fork saves the blockchain as is to the date of the block from which it is forked from.

Front ends like Steempeak, will be able to utilize both chains, no matter what the situation may be, after all imo it is us the people that matter and many have clearly stated that they plan on using both chains after a fork happens.

So there is no reason to look at a fork as "something different", in fact, if anything, it is a normal part of evolution in the blockchain scene.

Especially in cases like this, where saving what we have built to date is the foundation of the fork.