The 80 lb white stock is noticeably heavier than standard 20 lb printer paper, giving these tabs more resistance to tearing and bending under repeated handling than lighter paper would offer. For active case files that get pulled, reviewed, and refiled often, that added weight helps the tabs hold their shape and stay legible longer than a lighter-weight alternative. For documents that are filed once and rarely revisited, the extra durability matters less, though the heavier stock doesn't add meaningful cost compared to lighter options.