I do the same thing under the words time and material. You can lead a project manager to water but you cant make them think. IF I built every rail like that id be broke within the week. IF the project manager needs it done ASAP and wants it done on sight to save time then so be it.
that's about the ONLY reason to be hacking up full guard rails in the field. IM stuck in a couple thousand feet of handrail hell right now, Longest piece is 12' between bends. luckily there's alot of repetition but there's enough variation to require most of them be left long and whacked and welded in the field.
Built 450' of 3 line rail in place on a deck around a party tent for the Americas cup yacht race. in 2 days, the rail was only going to be up for 2 weeks then the whole thing was getting torn down and thrown in a dumpster. Damnit if that rail didnt come out nicer than anything i built in the shop in years. I been bidding red iron left and right but here i am in hand rail hell...