You really went "nuts" over that.
I think most of it is the issue of what do they do with scratched and dirty equipment? Can't send it to the next new customer and refurbishing will probably cost more thn buying a set. Making the customer deal with disposal is the cheapest and easiest solutionI got my very similar cabinet when a former employer decided to switch Industrial Hardware Suppliers. The new supply company provided their own cabinets and the old one did not want to take away the good condition used cabinets.
For a “Please and Thank You” I was able to take home those metal cabinets, drawers and bins.
The margin in Industrial Hardware must be pretty good to allow the vendors to supply the Cabinets, Stacks of Drawers and Bolt Bins.

