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Because the Prophet ﷺ commanded it. (1)
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Because of their grave danger and enormity.
The second view is that it is a sunnah, and this is the view held by the majority of scholars.
There is no doubt that one should not neglect them. Whoever does neglect them is in danger of one of two things:
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Sin.
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His prayer being invalid. For this reason, some of the early generations would instruct anyone who had not sought refuge from them to repeat his prayer. (2)
His statement, “and he supplicates with that which has been transmitted”: It would have been preferable had the author said, “and he supplicates with whatever he wishes,” because, after mentioning Ibn Mas‘ud’s hadith concerning the tashahhud, the Prophet ﷺ said, “Then let him choose whatever supplication he wishes.” (3) Yet the author’s words may be understood as follows: one should begin with what has been transmitted, for a transmitted supplication is better than a contrived one. Thus, when one finds a transmitted supplication, adhering to it is preferable; then one may supplicate with whatever one wishes.
Among the transmitted supplications in this regard is: “O Allah, help me to remember You, thank You, and worship You excellently.” (4) For the Messenger ﷺ instructed Mu‘adh ibn Jabal to supplicate with it.