In a time gone by, when there were NO TCAS and many regions were still HF radio contact, it was a way of just situation awareness, and in the middle of the night, Hay, how is it going. Probably still a hold over. I knew many crews that did it, and they were not particularly morons or tools. Guess times have changed, as it does. But I think you should get an RC helicopter in your spare time, and perhaps a dog to beat on the weekends.
Cheers
