[briandear]

Why? Sounds ridiculous — intentionally making documents hard to understand in order to subsidize the administrative class.

[sandworm101]

So you can consistantly cite line numbers. Always the same number of lines per page. As with many legal writing rules, it probably made more sense back when journals were written with quills.

[khaled]

One reason that comes to mind, is to make sure no extra text is inserted in the empty space e.g. after a contract is signed.

[pton_xd]

Signing two copies solves that, or even making a copy after execution.

[mintplant]

Does it solve it, or does it wind you up in court arguing over which copy is the "real" version?

[pezezin]

Easy, just make three copies.

[KetoManx64]

Who gets the third copy?

[fennecbutt]

The government.