What is the rationale to continue saying Yekum Purkan in its present state

Question

In Yekum Purkan, we pray for the well-being of the rabbis in Bavel, the Reishei Chalei, & the Reish Galvasa (commonly pronounced Galussa). This specific prayer for non-existent people and positions seems unique and I wonder why wasn't it amended? See for instance Tur Orach Chayim siman 188 that the language of Birchat Hamazon reflected various states of pre Beis Hamikdosh, during the Temple period, and following the destruction, by saying build, uphold, our rebuild Yerushalyim. Apparently, this type of amendment was not applied to Yekum Purkan. Why would we not care about uttering words that are not proper? (See Sefer HaChinuch 606 to only pray words that are applicable.)

Note this is not a prayer to return to days of old, but a prayer to uphold the situation as is, even though it doesn't exist.

Answer 1

When asked this question, R' Aharon Leib Shteinman שליט"א replied "ווייל דעם סידור טשעפעט מען נישט" - "because we don't mess with the Siddur"

ספר רבבות אפרים או"ח תנה deals with this question at length:

1) He writes that שו"ת זכר יהוסף responds to those who wish to abandon saying it, explaining how the terms רֵישֵׁי גַּלְוָתָא וּלְרֵישֵׁי מְתִיבָתָא, etc. apply to those in our community who represent us to our respective governments.

While the minhag ashkenaz is to say it, the reason that Sefardim don't say it is because they don't want to pray for things (תחנונים) on שבת. (See here)

Elsewhere, R' Ephraim Greenblatt (3:201) criticizes those who wish to do away with these תפילות, again, because we have so many great Rabbis who this applies to.

Answer 2

Rabbi Hirsch suggests in his siddur (pg. 346) that this term does not necessarily refer specifically to the person called Reish Galusa, but rather to all men in the position of leadership in exile.

רישי גלותא the Exilarch who administered the affairs of the exiled nation and whose residence was in the city of Babylon, was called ריש גלותא, However, the term is employed in the plural here; i.e. reishei galutha. Now by right only one person at a time could hold the exalted office of Exilarch. It may be that at the time this prayer was written, the institution of the resh galuthah, the Exilarch , might still have been extant. But the fact that the term is used here in the plural should indicate to us that reference is made here not to that one official, but rather to all the men who assumed position of leadership in the communities in exile; in other words, the officers and leaders of the communities and congregations.