Not for or against the proposition here, but to offer an explanation of the possible impact of refunding pearls alone: that could cut into revenue since after that the pearls banked could be reused instead of needing to purchase more.

Some of the refund issues have to do with the way some items are character bound.  Weight, for example, should only be bound when it is opened, like most other things.

This discussion implicitly assumes that PAs store practices are ok to start with.  They are already pretty predatory as is.  But that's a different topic.  Bottom line: caveat emptor, as usual.  Buy smart.

You're right. This whole suggestion/idea of course lives off of the assumption that PA is willing to show some good-will. I simply hope that them making bank from buyers' mistakes and preying on customers like that only makes up a miniscule amount of revenue. Of course I would not put it beyond them for reasons you already mentioned, but I choose to see the good. 

Buying smart should always be your first line of defense for sure. But it's quite hard to be smart about all the choices you make in this day and age, at least for me, considering the constant stream of information in modern society. And well, sometimes things happen that aren't in your control. I'd like to give people back a little bit more of that control.