This cycle winding down for me. Still possible I might get a qualifying offer, but please keep me in the loop starting in May. I got a 172 but may need to boost it over new medians if I am to get into T-10 with scholarship.
Another way to think about it it is that it "closes the argument loop". "If A then B, therefore B." Necessary assumption would be A, because it's the piece that's missing.
I let my proctor know that I didn't need my earplugs at the outset, but that I'd keep them on my desk and would put them in if/when needed. She seemed cool with that and saw them during the desk scan before the exam as well.