Why do we need .ref class for primtive class ?

[Remi Forax]

It just occurs to me that while ACC_VALUE is a bit that change the runtime semantics,
something the VM should take care of, ACC_PRIMITIVE is not a bit that change the
runtime semantics, only the javac translation strategy,
javac emits Q-types instead of L-type + the Preload attribute.

If value classes and primitive classes are equivalent at runtime, why do we need to generate the .ref interface/abstract class ?
We can use L-type instead.

Rémi