@Choatiemom, you said
We went to interviews openly and honestly, and did not rehearse, not even for contingencies. Several AO’s asked explicitly and specifically to which other schools my child was applying (I was not in the room). Of course they were given a direct and straightforward answer. Do you feel this was an error?
I do not see the disadvantage or the foolishness in this. It is an additional piece of information, but not a hugely useful one.
Since students perform better at their first choice school, informing a school that they are the first choice does add useful information.