Advertising your class is important, because people will treat you differently based on it. Even Pettis is quite conversant with class-signs, he refers to "a middle-aged well-dressed person". But his role in China is sufficiently outre that taking the subway won't hurt his career.
Status over practicality is fairly common, after all.
If it was more practical, doing it wouldn't show (1) you have the resources to do it, and (2) you know that it is important to do it.
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Date: 2014-11-25 02:49 pm (UTC)Status over practicality is fairly common, after all.
If it was more practical, doing it wouldn't show (1) you have the resources to do it, and (2) you know that it is important to do it.