Alan Gilbertson that is the most succinct and clear explanation I’ve read. Thank you.
There is usually good reasons for following traditions.
But must we follow tradition?
To me roman numerals are confusing. And if you want to tell somone to read page xii that is meaningful as it might be something that the author did not write and did not expect you to start reading there. And I suppose most authors want you to skip the beginning or know you will anyway.

Shouldn’t page numbers start where you want the reader to start reading?
Why follow a tradition that is confusing?
Why not just start page numbers with the first creative page where you give a message to readers to involve them in the book?
That’s where you would want them to start reading, to get in the mood to read the book, to start appreciating what you want them to remember.