You are the foremost creator of health and fitness threads on EDF, so it is quite odd that you do not know the benefits of keeping your daily step count around 8-12k.
Also if you do not know, it is very likely that you do not do it yourself.
I believe the counting of steps is self-defeating and misleading. If you fall short of the targeted step count, you believe your fat reduction goals cannot be met and, ultimately, it discourages you from getting exercise. Plus, it doesn’t take into account your diet and the calories that you consume.
You should go on walks because you enjoy them and not because of some arbitrary number of steps are being counted. If you want to involve maths in the process, use time: a 20 minute walk, 40 minute walk, 60 minute walk, etc.
And you are correct: I don’t count steps. I prefer to go running. I also play a variety of sports.