Cardboard as a mulch

I use cardboard as a weed suppressant as well as a mulch, and possibly as stated it is not gas permeable, but if it is soaked as it goes down, as advised by many people who advocate its use as a mulch /suppressant then punctured with a garden fork this would increase its permeability, also compareing the availability and cost in comparison to woodchip, makes it a more viable option for me, I do think it is a more environmentally friendly than weed membrane or plastic sheeting, and though I do not have any scientific proof I do think it encourages worms into the area where it is used, also as it disintegrates and gets incorporated into the soil the texture of the soil looks to me, as if it has improved, so until someone can prove it is detrimental to the environment I will continue to use it.
I always find it strange how, when something that people can get at no cost or relitivly cheap, someone is sure to find a downside to it