That’s exactly right, @inn0v8r - it’s really helpful for the guidance counselors to be able to say to a college that the kid is committing to go if they take him/her early, because then the college takes little or no yield risk even though the offer isn’t officially binding.
Although when you turn down an acceptance, you’re generally asked where you’re going, you don’t have to answer. Similarly, you can always state where you expect to be going based on what you have in hand - if that changes later, it makes no practical difference to you.