People use the duct/packing tape method for making casts of their own bodies too.. That's really popular amongst people making fursuits / mascots. I went down that train of thought when I made Wolfun my first mascot character but I chose to just stab myself with needles while sewing things to fit instead! Seemed a lot safer than being alone in the basement at night taping myself up... Could end up stuck there till morning if things don't work out right!

For smaller / innanimate objects I can see how that technique would be of great value though. You like the shape of something like a ball or a pillow or whatever you can tape-form it and have the shape to use forever.