Yes, it's just one of many ways to model for future value, which just happens to be the most predatory one and the most beneficial to the lender at the expense of not only the borrower but of the well-being of society itself. And if you eliminate usury and all other forms of financial rent-seeking hiding under other esoteric formats by law then that "elsewhere" will be limited to productive activities, which is an absolute positive.

As a bonus we get a few hangings as examples are made when they inevitably try to circumvent the spirit of the law using pilpul.