Dividing by 12 is "only" useful precisely because you don't have anything smaller than an inch, except fractions of an inch, of which only so many exist. We can keep adding decimals as needed in the metric system although it's not really a situation we routinely come across. In such a case though calculators aren't difficult to find these days. Like if I need a plank cut in 8 sections at the hardware store I can ask them to cut it for me. I can even ask them to cut in in 9ths and we'll just throw away the little piece that remains (though I'm sure this is possible in imperial too).
The granularity of the metric system also allows for things such as 12cm (or 12m or anything else) to exist, which effectively also allows us to divide them by the same factors you mentioned. Like if my painting canvas was 12cm tall, then I could create margins in thirds, fourths, sixths, etc. I could also just measure them from the side and make them whichever size I want down to 1 millimetre.
edit: nevermind my first conclusion. I think dividing by factors of 12 is a "shortcut" of sorts due to the "rigidity" of the imperial system (when it comes to feet and inches). It's easier to say "I need this cut in thirds or sixths". In metric, I would say "I need this cut to 1.25m or 1.5m" because it entirely depends on the overall length of what I'm measuring. And that length can be 150cm, 160cm, 170cm... which imperial doesn't really transcribe well.
That's the same reasoning my friend gives me haha
Dividing by 12 is "only" useful precisely because you don't have anything smaller than an inch, except fractions of an inch, of which only so many exist. We can keep adding decimals as needed in the metric system although it's not really a situation we routinely come across. In such a case though calculators aren't difficult to find these days. Like if I need a plank cut in 8 sections at the hardware store I can ask them to cut it for me. I can even ask them to cut in in 9ths and we'll just throw away the little piece that remains (though I'm sure this is possible in imperial too).
The granularity of the metric system also allows for things such as 12cm (or 12m or anything else) to exist, which effectively also allows us to divide them by the same factors you mentioned. Like if my painting canvas was 12cm tall, then I could create margins in thirds, fourths, sixths, etc. I could also just measure them from the side and make them whichever size I want down to 1 millimetre.
edit: nevermind my first conclusion. I think dividing by factors of 12 is a "shortcut" of sorts due to the "rigidity" of the imperial system (when it comes to feet and inches). It's easier to say "I need this cut in thirds or sixths". In metric, I would say "I need this cut to 1.25m or 1.5m" because it entirely depends on the overall length of what I'm measuring. And that length can be 150cm, 160cm, 170cm... which imperial doesn't really transcribe well.
Counterpont: I've never heard of anyone using metric time. That is in base 12 (or 24, or 60, but that's just multiples of 12).
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Yeah, so a duodecimal system, which can be divided by many factors is easier to do mentally.