(pun not intended)
"If you're not in such severe conditions, the water will remain near the plant."
Presumably because the soil is more moist? In which case, why are you applying water? And your thinking is based on the assumption that moisture travels laterally through soil a lot more freely than it actually does. The lateral travel of moisture through any kind of soil is very limited. Water travels through soil only due to gravity, and that is downward. The "wicking" effect is very limited and moves it very short distances; like small fractions of an inch.
Besides, the plant will send its roots in pursuit of water. Why else do you think your stupid pine tree has roots tearing up your sewers? So even if the water did not "remain near the plant" (which it actually will), the plant will send roots out to get it.
"In container gardening, evaporation can be a significant loss of water"
Not really. Clay pots will allow the water to leak out, so they should be provided with a waterproof lining, but otherwise once the surface of the soil has dried out no more evaporation can occur because the water cannot move upwards to do any evaporation. Gravity rules.
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