"As academic researchers, they are instinctively cautious, prone to emphasizing any uncertainty." ...not where climate science is concerned.

Thanks for this explanation. I'll go ahead and assume that all the retailers I buy from online are doing the same, for the same reason, and I will not feel guilty about not paying use tax. After all, why should tax be paid twice? And how am I to know if tax has been paid if a retailer does not state such, but in fact are paying it for their own convenience?

Are you sure the philosophy is not: "Be A-hole"?