RE: Maybe a silly question: side thrust - why we need it ?
All of the above is correct. But to answer you question about why some planes don't have the offset, if you fly the plane inverted, the offsets will work in the wrong direction. That's why most aerobatic planes have no thrust offsets. The pilot compensates for the directional issues with the radio inputs. Takes a lot of subtle stick work from a proficient acro pilot to keep the maneuver smooth and straight.