I'll bet the empty rolls of tape are counted and used to determine price.Not to determine the price of the paint job but keep tabs on how much $$$$$$$$$$$$$ is spent on this stuff. 2" tape depending on where you get it from can cost over $10.00 a roll. On this paticular boat I used over 18 rolls. I think there were 28 rolls of 3/4" at almost $3.00 and about 15 rolls of 1/4" at $2.35 a roll and about 8 rolls of 1/2" at around $2.50. Needles to say it does add up and I really never kept up on this until a couple of years ago if you can believe that. And when I did add it up I was shocked. So you are right to a point I guess. But it also lets the owner know where his $$$$$$$$$$$$ is going.