Here in UAE there are no alphabets or alphabets+numericals mixtures on the licence plates. Only numericals.
So if you buy a licence plate, you are essentially buying a nice number.
ours are like 4 digits, 3 digits and on one car there is 5 digits but the number is really cool. it is something like 6*0*6 .. the asterisk sign has same numbers..
as for why we got them, people give respect to the car if they see a bought good number.. buying licence plate numbers and that also good one's means u got monies.
hmm.. in NY it cost 50-75$ for what ever the name you want..
in Pakistan .. 4 years ago it cost around 5000rs per digit, so this is not about money, its that people don't care or they don't know they can do it.