Why does it matter so much to atheists that God doesn't exist?

Because these are not any gods rules we are talking about.

My problem is that people who try to shove their rules down everyone's throats - including by physical force - DO EXIST .

I am speaking to the US Bible thumpers here, of course ~ many of whom are flat-earthers who deny evolution and see scientists as evil people who are constantly trying, and succeeding, in disproving their beliefs one by one.

16ft great white shark found with perfectly circular hole in head – and we know exactly what caused it - BBC Wildlife Magazine

THE BIBLE IS THE PROBLEM!

And then use and ENJOY these fantastic scientific advancements every single day of your life?

Those rules that you are trying to reinstate are rules made by men who didn't know anything about the earth, nor anything about all of the other inhabitants of it. How can you not see that?

Why do we exist, and why are we conscious?

I do not personally care if you believe in a god or not.

The people of the modern world have evolved past all of that nonsense.

And how do you deny hundreds of years of advancement in all fields of science?

I Discovered I Got Cheated On. But His Story About That Night Isn’t Adding Up. - Slate Magazine

IT does not matter, mainly because it does not exist.

Notice that I said their rules, not any gods rules.

These are man made rules - made thousands of years ago for the use of the humans who lived thousands of years ago.

Why do good-looking men date homely women?

A belief in a god is not the problem.