Ask HN: Why are flimsy 1:100 architectural miniatures placed in wind tunnels?

Except to play with big, expensive machines, what are the goals of placing styrofoam architecture models in wind tunnels?

Is this a bullshit client service?

What problems are they going to find in these not even close approximations?

Don't civil, mech, and aero engineers and architects have CFD/FEA tools that are far more accurate?