I think I share the feelings most many Usonians on this: "Who cares about UNESCO?"
What I don't share is the question "What the frack is UNESCO?"
For many years, the U.S. wasn't even part of UNESCO, and except when used as a way for conservatives to complain about UN excesses, UNESCO hasn't been a priority for quite some time here. Frankly, if anything, I'm shocked as many U.S. sites are listed as there have been, thanks to the almost total disinterest here in things such as this promulgated by the UN.
Yes, a basic purpose of the World Heritage program is to bring attention and interest to the educational and literacy functions of UNESCO itself. Nations wouldn't support UNESCO to the same extent if its sole purpose was expanding female literacy in Africa or its other "worthy" tasks.
There is no secret why US conservatives complain about the WH program itself: it intentionally limits the type and extent of development of a declared site, natural or cultural. The Everglades is already a threatened because of too much South Florida suburban runoff contaminating it. Dresden/Elbe Valley was delisted because a new autobahn was built through it.
You can argue that the most (in)famous places in the US like the NOLA French Quarter don't need any more attention, but if a heritage listing keeps a less well known site (like those Moravian churches in PA) from being demolished, then why not add it. Even if USians aren't impressed with a UNESCO designation, foreign visitors are.
The WH program is not what attracts the ire of those few U.S. conservatives who even know about UNESCO. After all, as you pointed out, the WH is so toothless as to not impede development, so why should they care about it? Actually, it was those education functions you mentioned and how they often acted as if the 3 R's were reading, 'ritin', and revolution.
