H for Harmonics

Was reading through some thread of discussion on an Imperial Bosendorfer on which has 97 keys instead of the usual 88. I was thinking of the higher registers but in fact the additions were on the lower ends.

Someone was saying he wishes more are built this way. And another question his need for the extra octave. Like what difference do a extra few notes, especially those at the end of the spectrum, make?

A simple reply was because it would be awesome and that it could mimic thunder.

And then another person asserted:

No, that's not the reason at all.
Those extra strings resonate with any other strings being played particularly those in the lower octaves giving a deeper and richer tone. When those keys are actually played as part of a piece they give much deeper resonance. When played alone as in this example, they simply sound a little weird and somewhat pointless. The presence of these strings is as much if not more about the sympathetic resonance they offer, than it is about them actually being played.

Not only is the reply impressive for a reflection of the writer's knowledge of harmonics, but the last line is really food for thought, especially in application to the things and people around us in our lives.