In terms of stock customization, what does ensuring proper alignment of patterns on both sides accomplish?

Ensuring proper alignment of patterns on both sides of a piece during stock customization significantly enhances the visual appeal of the final product. When patterns are mirrored and aligned correctly, it creates a sense of symmetry and cohesion, making the piece more visually striking and aesthetically pleasing. This is particularly important in applications such as furniture design or decorative woodworking, where the appearance is often as crucial as the function.

While alignment may have indirect effects on other factors, such as potentially improving structural integrity in some cases where patterns are part of a design that integrates with the overall build, the primary and most direct consequence of careful alignment is the enhancement of visual aesthetics. The other options, such as reducing weight or speeding up the application process, are not typically associated with the alignment of patterns but instead relate to different aspects of woodworking and assembly techniques.