[giancarlostoro]

Not sure about you, but I always assume physical paper maps arent like 100% perfect and exaggerate on detail, I can't remember when in school I was taught this, but I since learned not to blindly trust maps, they're mainly good for a rough ballpark (INSANELY GOOD BALLPARK!).

[IIAOPSW]

That depends wildly. What you described is known as quasi geographical, which basically amounts to "its ok to stretch features but not beyond recognition depending on the purpose of the map". If you're looking at a street map, you mostly care that all the joints are connected as depicted, not that the distances depicted between each corner are truly correct down to some precision. That tourist highway map in the gas station, they mostly need to see where the roads go and some additional markers to have a visual reference for where to turn and what to look for. No one is bothered by making those roads curve a bit more or go at a slightly wrong angle in order to fit more map on the page. Just don't try to use your street map for geological surveys, and don't try to use your subway map as a street map.

[dzmien]

When I was growing up, someone told me that a printed map is out of date before the ink dries.

[giancarlostoro]

That's a really good point! I like that.