You are right, Ian, but a little more complex than that.
From memory - and if you can remember the sixties you were not there - some of the relevant costs were:
- Capital cost,
- Cleaning costs,
- Heating costs - carpets eliminated the "cold feet" associated with vinyl => turn the heating down by 1 or 2 degrees and no one notices,
- Insurance costs - fewer slips on carpet,
- Staff perceptions - carpets viewed as a luxury fit out, even though they were cheapest!
- Quieter - supposed to help productivity,
- Corporate image - customers will see we are looking after our staff!
Carpet tiles were for high wear areas - lobbies, corridors, etc - and could be rotated to spread wear - or easily replaced.
Not sure I believed it all - even then.