Condiment conundrum

[vakkotaur]

For the next few days jmaynard and I are in Texas. The hotel at which we are staying at is one that is set up for extended stays and so the "room" has a kitchen setup with fridge, range (but no stove as such), toaster, and even dishwasher in addition to the usual coffee maker and increasingly common microwave. It's very nice. There, of course, little packets of sweeteners, coffees, and teas, and the like. But one thing strikes me as either ingenious or silly and I'm not entirely sure which it is.

There are little paper packets of salt, and of pepper. They are in a set of shakers. I suppose someone could open all the packets and use the shakers. I understand using the packets - only use what is needed and the next guests don't wonder about what the last guests might have done or whatever. And the shakers make it obvious what those packets are and keep them from getting mixed up with the sugar and such. Still, it is rather odd seeing the shakers with the paper packets in them.