Comment by nerdponx

In my experience it pops up when company politics get involved, or somebody gets attached to their idea about how certain things should or shouldn't be done. In that case often the safest thing you can do for your own reputation and appearance is to leave some very gentle notes that a certain thing maybe could have been done differently, but approve it anyway on the grounds that it works for now. That way you're not seen as an obstructionist, but if things do go wrong you at least have a written record so you can say "I told you so".