Soft

Why are the backs of the conference room chairs padded?

I don't mean the seat back that I lean against when I'm sitting in the chair. I understand that padding, and I prefer it over hard plastic or metal.

I mean the back of the chair--the part I look at when approaching the chair from behind, the part that gets pushed up against the wall. Why is that part of the chair padded?

It's not like anybody's going to sit there...