Very nice Bean... you must be in Phoenix or something eh?
What can I say? I'm Seattle born and raised. But when it came my turn to shell them out, how could I pass up the opportunity to be
that guy?

Because most people are lazy!! I know people that leave elk and even moose capes in the dang woods...
I don't think its always laziness. Its a long day when you put down an elk or a moose. First priority needs to be preservation of the meat as far as timeliness goes. If the hunter has already made up there mind on an antler mount only, the cape might be a distant priority that is quickly forgotten.