Other benefits for evolution — it provides corroborating evidence as to the age of the world for geology and cosmology, and opened a new way of thinking that is useful in other sciences, which arguably led to many advances.
...if ID can and is shown to be correct
As I understand it, ID seeks to prove the existence of an Intelligent Designer, aka God. If it succeeds, I think science would just carry on — interesting and useful research isn’t concerned with God one way or another. But it would have profound consequences for religion — here is the outline plot for a story to frighten kids in Sunday school.
It is set in the near future, and opens with scenes from churches, temples, etc. showing wide jubilation at the unbelievable
success of ID in proving the existence of the Intelligent Designer.
Obviously there is no longer any need for faith in God, as everyone now knows for sure that He exists. Faith is limited to the existence of minor celebs such as angels and demons, along with the attributes of God, such as how good is He really, are priests necessary for communication with Him, what’s the most effective method of prayer, etc.
Each religion then tries to use the now proven ID methodology to empirically determine those attributes in detail, in the hope of bolstering their own claims and undermining others. Things get pretty heated during this phase.
A strong reactionary movement forms, centered on evolution, in an attempt to claw back faith, but with the cat out of the bag forever, all religions finally die out in favor of self-improvement books and conspiracy theories.
The denouement goes back to the ‘80s and reveals that the inventors of ID were actually a group of Baptist students (I'm a Baptist) pulling a prank that got out of hand.
Oh don't listen to me, I'm just a girl