These comments are funny. I would not have been able to bite my tongue with the A4/blue jean drying guy. I'd be like, "dude, use this" and gave him a terry towel to dry with.
I've spend most of the last 7-8 years washing my car at the local coin-op's. So I've seen all kinds of wacky things. One recent thing I saw was a couple bringing their two cars to the coin-op. Hubby breaks out the Greased Lightning degreaser and squirts down the wheels and tires on both cars. He then waits for the stuff to dry before rinsing it off. Nothing like dried-on degreaser to remove a clearcoat.