This is an example of a well-established countification process for (some) mass nouns.
Below is a minor elaboration of the last comment on the answer linked above.

It's an ordinary example of how efficient language is in using resourses. Why waste a perfectly good plural suffix when it can be used to signal something else, like diversity of type (15 paints were used in this drawing), or vastness of extent (sands of the Sahara)?

 

There is also a massification for count nouns, referring to undifferentiated physical or spiritual phenomena (a lot of car for the money), etc.

This is an example of a well-established countification process for (some) mass nouns.
Below is a minor elaboration of the last comment on the answer linked above.

It's an ordinary example of how efficient language is in using resourses. Why waste a perfectly good plural suffix when it can be used to signal something else, like diversity of type (15 paints were used in this drawing), or vastness of extent (sands of the Sahara)?

There is also a massification for count nouns, referring to undifferentiated physical or spiritual phenomena (a lot of car for the money), etc.

This is an example of a well-established countification process for (some) mass nouns.
Below is a minor elaboration of the last comment on the answer linked above.

It's an ordinary example of how efficient language is in using resourses. Why waste a perfectly good plural suffix when it can be used to signal something else, like diversity of type (15 paints were used in this drawing), or vastness of extent (sands of the Sahara)?

There is also a massification for count nouns, referring to undifferentiated physical or spiritual phenomena (a lot of car for the money), etc.

This is an example of a well-established countification process for (some) mass nouns.
Below is a minor elaboration of the last comment on the answer linked above.

It's an ordinary example of how efficient language is in using resourses. Why waste a perfectly good plural suffix when it can be used to signal something else, like diversity of type (15 paints were used in this drawing), or vastness of extent (sands of the Sahara)?

There is also a massification for count nouns, referring to undifferentiated physical or spiritual phenomena (a lot of car for the money), etc.