I think that bones DO have a lot of nourishment for the dogs, and it is not just a fetich that they like to chew on a bone, but part of their internal craving that tells them that a bone is good for them.
When wolves chew on a bone, it is much different than the bones you can buy at the pet store. The ones from the pet store have been completely cleaned, and baked. there is no bone marrow, meat scraps, or cartilage on those bones.
The bones that a wolf would be eating are much healthier (and safer) for the wolf, or dog, to chew on. they are fresh and raw, and do not make the sharp splinters that a cooked bone will do. They have the marrow inside the bone, and the cartilage on the joints, which helps protect the joints and vertebra of the animal that is eating the bone.
We always would get the bones from the butcher shop for the dogs, so they were very good for the dog.
Having something to chew, whether it is a bone or a rawhide bone, is important for the dog in many other ways, as you mentioned in your post, Snowflake. Puppies (just like little kids) need something to chew on when they are teething, and having some kind of a chew toy for the puppy will save a lot of your shoes, and maybe the furniture as well.
