John,
You know full well that with a tube of KY and some elbow grease you can jam a 28 1/2" rifle into a 28" case. With the right push, you can always get another 1/2" in.
Unlike tulips, a$$holes are in season all year round. And every year the crop gets bigger and bigger. Too bad we can't market a$$holes, we would be rich I tell you!