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That's an expansion joint, it's just a fibrous material put between concrete pads to allow for expansion/contraction during freeze/thaw cycles so the concrete pad doesn't crack or crack something else. They don't even use them a lot of times now and simply score the pad with a concrete cutter so it cracks there.
There really isn't any reason to replace it or fix it other than aesthetics.
Weeds, moss, ants, drainage issues, cracking from frost heaves...
Weeds and ants are issue no matter what. Drainage should be non issue especially if the replacement is caulking which is certainly not going to provide any drainage. Ther should not be any cracking if it's missing because ot's already done it's job which is to separate the pad into small pieces, it's usually going to be dirt or whatever in the crack and that will compress. There is pads at my Grandmother's house older than me where they used wood for the expansion joint, that wood is long gone but the pads are fine.
There really is no easy way to replace properly and at the end of the day it's lot of work for little benefit.
The proper installation of an exterior expansion joint involves topping it with sealant. Water intrusion could lead to frost heaving (probably not an issue in Durham NC) or settlement from erosion. While you could leave it as is and hope that this doesn't happen, there's really no reason not to do it right. And aesthetically, it will look finished rather than just an open gap.
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