Little bit more...

Yesterday, I was listening to the radio on the way to work and there was some news piece about the number of businesses owned by African-Americans in the Michigan region. The speaker was going rah-rah on the strength of the African-American community when he came up with this little nugget.

African-Americans own more than Seventeen thousand five hundred and thirty businesses in the Michigan state.

I mean, come on, if you got down to the thirty level in that huge count, why not tell me the exact number? Or why not say more than 17500 or maybe more than 17000. Why do you need to add "more than" when you are stating, what I believe, is a fairly accurate count? Does it make the number sound that much more big? What is it?

Reminds me of another commercial I heard on the radio...this was for a furniture warehouse...

We have more than six locations in Metro XXXXX!!!

Really? You serious? Don't leave me hanging, dude. The suspense is killing me. How many more? One? Two? Or, dare I suggest, even Three... taking the total to, wait, let me add them up, yes...nine??? Holy Moley! That is an incredible number of stores to have. I won't be able to sleep till I know of the exact number of stores. Tell me, Tell me....