In local government, at least ours, some of these decisions are made because the mayor has complete authority to enter into service contracts. To buy equipment, we have to take it to a vote in the council. So if we just rent copiers the mayor can just do it. If we buy them outright, we have to convince 7 people we need them and spend 1.5 months getting the legislation through. It grates against me when we rent things we should buy, but it's a system I can't fight.