*sigh* Did you think I don't know that? Yes, it was the sensible place for the station to be at the time. Is it now? No! So why is it even relevant when we are discussing the future of the area?
It's a very sensible location for a station called 'Wedgwood', I would even go so far as to say it is in it's optimal location, and, to use your terminology, that it would be silly for it to be anywhere other than where it is now.
A replacement station at Trentham, on the A5035 as mentioned, was an idea floated many years ago but it got no further than the talking stage - no studies were carried out. More recent talk was for a halt further north, to serve the new (then under construction) Stoke City football ground. Nothing came of that idea either.
Along with the idea for an inter-city halt in Etruria Valley (either as an additional stop or replacement for the current Stoke-on-Trent station).
The fine people of Stoke like to float their grand ideas but never progress them beyond that. Now, what happened to the idea for a cable car from Etruria / Festival Park to Hanley?
Although Stoke-on-Trent station is not in the city centre, it is close to Staffordshire University (currently transferring activities from its Stafford campus), Stoke-on-Trent College and the Sixth Form College. All of which attract 'commuters'. Travel times between Stone, Barlaston, Wedgwood and the 'University Quarter' are poor by existing bus services. A decent rail service serving these points would be beneficial. Whether it would be financially viable I leave to the number crunchers.