Ticket Collection

Why do conductors collect tickets instead of just punching them and giving them back to the passenger, or using them as a seat check?

The railroad wants the collected stock returned. Occasional audits are done as well.

I've seen the crews just rip up or throw out stacks of tickets

Just because some people make $40 an hour does not mean they are bright, but again point is what does company (MN) want from employee.
and is such employee willing to do his job and protect his job and what company wants ??

ADMIN NOTE:

If you get the goat of Ms GirlOnTheTrain, neither Jeff nor I are going to save you. Think about that the next time...