[erasmuse]

Sure but I could be reading even further ahead if I didn't have to carefully trace the horizontal line from a tied note (to see if it stays on the same level or if it jumps to another note). On the other hand if it were, say, a thicker line, or a broken line, or a line of different colour, or a something-else-to-distinguish-it-from-a-phrase-mark, then I could be utilising that time more fruitfully.