The test case steps and results need to be stored somewhere. They are stored in the database that underlies the ALM product.
Sprinter was developed after the ALM/QC product already existed. It was intended to give users access to the functionality for running and creating test cases and logging defects without access to all the other features of ALM (Requirements, Releases, Dashboard, etc.)
I think the idea was to provide a "simpler" interface for folks who only needed to execute tests and open defects. Additional functionality has been added to help users create new tests.
Sprinter was developed after the ALM/QC product already existed. It was intended to give users access to the functionality for running and creating test cases and logging defects without access to all the other features of ALM (Requirements, Releases, Dashboard, etc.)
I think the idea was to provide a "simpler" interface for folks who only needed to execute tests and open defects. Additional functionality has been added to help users create new tests.