Qui-Gon isn't completely pointless but if he hadn't shown up and found Anakin one of two things would have happened: 1.) Sidious would never had a powerful apprentice to destroy the republic, because of that the clone wars probably wouldnt have started and Sidous wouldnt have tried to take over. And even if the clone wars had taken place, Anakin wouldnt have been there to help kill mace windoo, therefore Sidious dying. Or 2.) Anakin would have been discovered by someone else most likely, fading into the jedi order, and not having to deal with Obi-won's reluctants to teach Anakin, therfore helping him not to tip toward the dark side. Qui-Gon wouldnt die in ether senerio.