Its like programming C++ you need to have a variable to analyze the command, you do need any text doesnt matter to be there. the text performs like this
string (eval(font)) (eval(size)) end result Fontname:fontsize:(testing of(string))
without having a string it can't evaluate the font name/size has the font data itself doesnt exist if no string is attached.
so again the initial text going through the string is being tested AS this font with this size.
im almost 100% khaled wrote it the same way from scratch where $height acts as a break down like this (non coding way)
PARAMETER
;need font name
ARIAL
;need font size
14
;end result
PARAMETER is being evaluated for it's height from size
so again the end result is where DATA NEEDS to be entered (the first string IS NEEDED, because it will be needed in the final result has the system goes through processing