Believe it or not, there are serious answers to your questions, though I don't know what they are. I DO know, however, that companies actually agonize over these package design issues and do whatever it is they ultimately do for very specific reasons. My wife was a package designer in New York for many years and she has the most hilarious stories to tell. I don't know whether it applies to French's, but some companies do want to encourage you to throw the bottle away before it's finished so you'll have to buy another one. And others want to make pouring the product easier, again so you'll use it up faster and buy another one. Us, well, we buy Gulden's. Take care!