You don't know him, but yet you can show that you hear his payers and you care for the player, and probably appoint time or something like that.

Often all that is required is a sign that our effort is not going unnoticed.

Also, there are offline empowerments. This mechanics may make them more interesting in RP wise much more entertaining for both and imm, and a player.

Sometimes you actually know player, but your playing time do not match - and you have something to tell/give/remove to/from the player, but you cannot catch him in his playing time. In this situation, it would help too.

I've been empowered many times, and I personally had situations when my imm been looking for me and couldn't catch me during 3 weeks (and thats a LOT). So it is useful for both sides.