The main benefit of having a potentially shippable product at the end of each Sprint is the ability to release the product quickly in case market conditions change.However, usually in the first half year or more the product doesn't have enough value to be actually shipped. So why spend all this energy to make a potentially shippable increment each Sprint if you know with complete certainty that the product won't be shipped? 
The value of potential shippability when the product is not minimally viable yet
agile;scrum
it allows for early feedback, not just from customersit keeps management from getting nervous (they can 'see' the progress)it keeps the dev. team into a good habitAnd most important (at least in my opinion)it makes you challenge your initial concept of a minimal viable productit gives you the flexibility to redefine your minimal viable product