You appear to believe that retirement assets in quailed plans that are requested to be listed on PROFILE never have an effect on financial aid.
I believe otherwise. I don’t believe the question is there simply to be a FYI.
Colleges can use whatever criteria they want in disbursing their own funds. Having seen this question regarding retirement assets come up, not in one, but three sessions with 3 different colleges’ FA officers over a period of years , not a one would state that absolutely the information is not used.