Discovered the same thing during a camp internship in college. It provides, I believe, one of the biggest optics pop of any prop out there. Want to stand out on the factory floor? Want to look authoritative at a high school or amateur sporting event, want to engender credibility at a local government meeting? The answer to these and many similar questions is the same: Carry a clipboard. It’s amazing! Good observationa and post, because in the end, it’s usually just a prop.
During the late 80’s I worked for a large manufacturing company. They conducted an annual physical inventory of the plant which was an “all hands” process. Because of my modest job title I was relegated to the most menial of tasks - counting fasteners. It was mind-numbing and back breaking work with no options of “sharing the wealth”.
After my first inventory I learned to grab a hardhat and a clipboard, and walk around the plant with an air of purpose (easy since my purpose was to get out of work!).
I did it for three years before I got caught.