Didn't think of it that way. The guy's ideas sound good on paper...but in real life it sounds like someone who is playing shows unprepared. As for why my friends do it, I think it may be due to the reason that you mentioned you didn't on one of your guitars; alternate tunings. We're playing stuff in drop D right now, and I know the guitarist plays other stuff too when he's not with us. Maybe its for that reason but I'll ask when we practice tomorrow.