Why should I use LOOK_UP variable in enumeration that response for block damage?

[AntonBespoiasov]

Learning about block damage and subblocks I noticed that there is META_LOOKUP variable in every enumeration that response for damage. I even found this variable in enumeration of planks from source code of Minecraft. This variable stores all values of enumeration it is in.

I think META_LOOKUP variable is useless because you can just use values() for enumeration to get array of its values. Am I right? 

[DavidM]

Not really.

IIRC caching values in a static variable and using it to look up values is faster than using values() from an enum.

[LexManos]

values() creates a new array every time you call it so people can't do values()[0] = null; and screwup other people.

So yes caching it is recommended.