This issue of the inflated yardage just makes me crazy. One of the reasons I purchase a pattern is for the exact yardage. It just sends me over the edge when I get to the end and have soo.. much more than I really needed. I get that they are sometimes accounting for the difference between 42 - 45inch or want to make sure if you straighten the fabric to cut on grain there may be some loss.... but come on ... there are those who assume that the yardage is exact and then go on to out their own "fudge" factor resulting in even more left over.
I will admit I sometimes purchase a pattern because I just want to get started , and do not want to think too much about the math . A pattern has less of a value to me if I just spent 10 dollars and then have 20 -30 dollars of fabric left over. I have quit buying patterns I can wing it on my own and have less left over.