[GMB]

I think the reason for adding resistors in series with capacitors in this kind of situation is to control the inrush surge if the capacitor is switched on at the point of high voltage in the cycle. If that happens there will be contact damage and also an emc pulse that will have the opposite effect to that intended.

Many modern devices with mains emc filters do not have the resistors and you can always tell because you do see a blue flash at the switch some times when turning on. Inductive devices make the blue flash when you turn them off of course, and there the snubber resistor goes in parallel with the inductance to give the voltage somewhere to go.

This kind of thing is a counter-example to "working solution, leave alone" because the damage builds up over time.