On not unpacking kit, true. Both sons-in-law did just that. Think back, the kit was desert kit and not therefore used in UK. They were thankful for getting home in one piece and basically dumped th kit where they stopped. They had post-deployment leave, possibly new jobs, and they got on with their lives.
You know how busy it can be and unpacking kit that is not in use will be very low priority. Then new pattern kit was issued and unpacking would become an irrelevance.
Easily done.