Well it’s much easier to measure 1” from each end manually instead of having all these fancy DRO options.
Maybe it’s just the carpenter experience, why measure over 5” when it’s easier to measure 1”, etc.
like when guys take a 4x8 sheet of ply to cut a 45 “ wide piece, they measure 45” over instead of just the 3” that come of because the sheet is exactly 48” wide.
Well.. No. We measure WHICHEVER portion is OUR "critical need". Could be either one.
I don't TRUST a sheet of goods to be on-spec. Most especially if tongue & groove, damaged, maybe trimmed for some earlier tasking.
Likewise I might measure "relative" to a vise jaw at ONE end, but wouldn't confuse the jaw with a length-standard, otherwise. I have plenty of THOSE - rectangular gage block set extensions, not just rod-type standards or even "well known" parallels or ground blocks that one CAN trust.. but stil "vets" now and then, even so..
None of them get confused for vise-jaws, either.
Yah. I can see an advantage to it, some work, to make jaws or liners so they COULD be part of hasty setup measure - could even engrave them with divisions.
Mostly we keep metrology separate from workholding if only because it is not
meant to "bear a load" in any way that might degrade accuracy, longevity, or both.