wouldn't it be easier to use $v1?

we don't have any super complicated retrievals up there, just a series of elseifs with $v1 = $3. not sure what you mean by 'easier'. easier to type? perhaps. easier to understand? again, sometimes, since it requires the reader to look up to see where $v1 takes its value from. yes, it's a good technique to use in cases where: 1) the original $v1 is a piece of code that is subject to change, and the nature of the code is such that the subsequent elseifs need to change also, or 2) the original $v1 is a piece of code that isn't a simple identifier (one without arguments) or variable. not 'super complicated', but anything that isn't simple.