If I use the Codecov orb to send data from CircleCI tests, is there any point in installing the app on my repository?
(Sorry if there’s a question category. I didn’t see it)
Nope, the app is one of many ways to upload to Codecov. The Orb is fine 
It helps with things like team bots and private access, but as long as you pass your token to the Orb and are using a user that is logged into Codecov and have access you should have no issues.