Yes, that is a good point. But it also causes him to continuously think about indicators to determine what he has taken. He is constantly trying to punch the veil on this "blind" study instead of doing everything he can to avoid that. Are they really the exact same weight? Do they really feel the same in his hand, mouth and throat? Does one have a slightly different taste - after all, no filling process will leave the outside of the capsule 100% free of powder, etc? Very subtle differences could manifest themselves over 16 months.
It gives a hint of how well the blinding worked.