Nails like humans and apes have seem pretty weak compared to claws, and even other tree-dwelling species have hooked claws.
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We can have claws, by picking up a knife. We can have fur by wearing a coat we can instantly shed. We can see in the dark by making fire or flashlights, or in the bright light with hats or shades. We won evolutionary by being above all else, adaptable.
Nails, and ours specifically, are best used for grooming and removing parasites. This is a great way to bond socially. I’ve read that the shape of our nails is one of the many reasons why we became the social creatures that we are today and why we bonded so well with some other animals.
Jumping on this excellent comment to add: They also provide your finger pads with more grip, because when you press the pad against a surface it is squeezed between the surface and the nail and flattens out, providing a larger grip surface.
They improve the sensation of fingers without impeding their dexterous uses, pairs well with thumbs
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