Why are there 2 directories for user preferences and profiles settings?

Whenever Im following a tutorial or set of directions to get to things like plug-ins, scripts, workspace, swatches, etc, I only see:
C:\Users\*username*\AppData\Roaming\Adobe\Adobe Illustrator 27 Settings\en_US\x64\
90% of the time these directories are empty. In fact, Illustrator as an application doesnt even recognize these directories as defualt (scripts for instance)
Instead, there are secondary directories also installed/created in program files

C:\Program Files\Adobe\Adobe Illustrator 2023

So, not only am I constantly having to figure out what goes where, but in situations like thise where I have to go and backup all my files to prepare for format and update to Win11, I have no clue what im needing to backup. Backing up both directories seems so messy, and then Im worried about the overwrite process once my system is back up and running and Illustrator is reinstalled.

*** Why are two seperate directories when Adobe applications only recognize certain sub-folders/sub-directories for certain files, and the set for other files? Is there any way to consolodate and chose just one directory, and eliminate the other one all together? This would include default location for Swatches and Patterns. Is there a feature Im mising to tell Adobe application/cloud to backup specific sets of files (scripts, workspace, settings)?