Yes, of course, but bunkai are not standardized and oftentimes quite ridiculous - with multiple attackers, and jump kicks and outrageous simultaneous blocks/attacks. I've done many public demonstrations which were mostly show performances, like in a Bruce Lee movie; but they don't resemble an actual fight in any way. I'm not sure if you're arguing that kata resemble a real fight, because that's even a step further than other posters are doing, but even assuming that you're just arguing that bunkai help one to visualize the potential circumstances the movements in kata can be used in, they're so stylized as to be completely irrelevant in real life.
I mean, all of you must have had karate teachers that would let you walk from one side of the gym to the other, doing straight punches, and taking take or proper foot placement, hip movement, fist height and position, etc? While the teacher walks around and corrects posture and style? All those hours you've done that (and I have, too) are completely useless from a 'learning to fight' point of view. They are needed to become a good karateka, yes, but none of it will help you throw a useful, as opposed to beautiful, punch.
I mean, all of you must have had karate teachers that would let you walk from one side of the gym to the other, doing straight punches, and taking take or proper foot placement, hip movement, fist height and position, etc? While the teacher walks around and corrects posture and style? All those hours you've done that (and I have, too) are completely useless from a 'learning to fight' point of view. They are needed to become a good karateka, yes, but none of it will help you throw a useful, as opposed to beautiful, punch.