Human readability too could mean base64 encoding.

Instead of ACKNOWLEDGE you say ACK or mere A. Instead of REQUEST PAGE FROM <path>, you say RPF <path> and so on. This is my main point of hatred towards "human readable formats", because they waste bytes for no reason.

I can run the water for as long as I want without absolutely no consequences for me, but why would I do it if I can avoid it? Why would I not save resources whenever I can, even though I don't need to do it? It's more a philosophical question, to which I would answer with "save anything you can, whenever you can and make no waste.". Very simple.