Actually, that's called a slump test. It checks the workability before the pour. Makes a huge difference when crews do it right!

No way, a whole week of grimy couch feeling? That show really gets under your skin.

What's the point of making things harder? In my experience, adding difficulty without good reason just leads to frustration. Your mileage may vary, but most people want to solve problems, not create new ones. Take this with a grain of salt, but I see it as a waste of time and energy. Life already has enough challenges without us adding more on purpose. So, unless there's a clear benefit, why invite trouble?