Probably. If it wasn't essential, they could have just cut it to save space.
Then again, there are a lot of unessential cutscenes in WC3. I mean, honestly, who here turned transitions off? After the third time of seeing Mark Hamill look around, pause...then walk to the elevator door, pause...then step inside, THEN seeing the elevator move up and down the shaft, and seeing Mark Hamill walk out...honestly.
Maybe the producers didn't want us to feel sorry for Hobbes. I sure didn't! The next time I played the game, I killed him and ejected so fast it made my own head spin.