Is it essential to produce the confirmed hotel booking receipt when applying for US tourist visa?

I reckon it depends for the reason where are you going to US. Like my parents applied for the US visa, and they gave Point of Contact info as my address (and i am student). If you are visiting someone, you can give their address.

If you are going as a tourist, i reckon you might need some prior travel plans. I am sure that US hotels would reimburse promptly even if you cancel later. But i am not sure of US hotels, so just get a second opinion about this.

Generally, the Visa Officers don't have much time to go through the documents, until and unless you come across to them as suspicious and lacking a clear goal for travel.