although i have never done it, but i understand why people working in that area does it. we have 1 hr for lunch and most often than not, it coincides with everyone else's eating time. given the limited number of seats and long queues for food, it is more efficient to buy and not have to look for seats later on. leaving someone to wait for u may not be a good idea because queueing can take up to 20 mins and by the time, u come back with the food, the other person has less than 30 mins to buy and eat his food. if u reach the food court or hawker centre late, u can take up to 15 mins easily to get a place to sit as well.
people who don't have to eat in that area wouldn't understand. i certainly didn't. i actually threw away tissue packets when i dine with my wife at shenton last time. i thought it was someone's litter. then when the ladies came back, they stared at me. and i didnt know why at all until she told me. and i still think it is pretty silly to put tissue.
