Requiring checkmate instead of just hitting the king in chess overcomplicates understanding the game

In practice it changes nothing to make eliminating the enemy king the victory requirement over checkmate, what Checkmate means is that there is no reality where the king is not struck on the players next turn. Aka the king would get hit on the next turn after every victory. Checkmate pointlessly cuts the game one turn short in a way that confuses people when you try to explain the game. It would change 0 about any actual strategy and make the Gane easier to explain.

Edit: I understand now it is because of the possibility of stalemates! I was wrong.