Tie up money? Really?? It's $250 per booking. Chump change. If I invested it at current rates it would net me seven bucks a year. That's just plain noise, and extremely cheap insurance for protection against fare increases, room unavailability or that dreaded shift to "guaranteed" where they will stick my steerage room actually down in steerage proper. Besides, some of us derive great pleasure from the hobby of booking early and often. It's not like I don't have the time. 😎 But, do whatever works for you. I was just answering your "WHY?" YMMV.