That "totally normal that makes zero sense" thing kids notice is everywhere once you start looking. Like how we call it a "restroom" when nobody goes there to rest, or "shipping" a package when it goes in a truck. Your nephew's onto something, it's like the words got stuck and we all just agreed to not question it. Makes you wonder what else we're just saying on autopilot without it meaning what it says.

Have you seen some of the bad carpet jobs out there?

Totally get this with my ficus a while back. Kept trimming it to make it bushier, but it just got more sparse and sad looking. Finally left it completely alone for like six weeks, no cuts at all. The thing exploded with new shiny leaves once it stopped being stressed. Sometimes they just need to be left alone to do their thing.