@schnoz-

Hopefully I can help-

There are about 100 reasons why your turbinates would swell. Learn about those first.

Also-your ENT is a surgeon. Remember that.
I recommend seeing a non surgical professional whom specializes in inflammation/immunology and can explain reasons for this mechanism of action.
A surgeons view is from what that can remove. Purely structural and nothing to do with why or how the body reacts systemically.

Also-any wider openings to the nasal cavity causes dryness. ENTs know this. The nasal cavity needs tight junctures for optimal humidification. I’d ask your ENT specifically how does widening the nasal cavity help with dryness specifically? See what their response is.

And do take note of your own quote “my condition is not horrible to live with”…

Better to spend time learning about how to work with your natural physiology than have it removed or altered.

Breathing and sensations within the nose are highly subjective. ENTs will try to match your subjective issues with an objective observation. No ENT can ever say you will breathe better after their recommended procedure. And any ENT whom claims that, I would steer very clear from.

A dry environment, stress, hypertension, allergies, non allergic rhinitis, hormonal changes, dehydration, diet and about 100 other things can cause a feeling of nasal obstruction. Also- dryness can give off the feeling of obstruction when really nothing is obstructed at all.

Your nose is an organ-remember that. Only time you would remove organ tissue is if it was cancerous or had abnormal growths.