They are pretty thin and not super dense. I don't think they weigh a quarter of pound. If you're already paying the current market prices for brisket, a beef rib bone is going to negligible compared to everything else.
Recently had the misfortune of going to the OG Salt Lick (not by choice) for a family gathering. I hadn't been in well over ten years, and it managed to be much, much worse than I remembered. Just terrible overcooked, tasteless, bland bbq. Even my 12 year old son remarked that "this bbq sucks dad." Oh indeed. Rudy's is way better and that's not saying a whole lot.
A couple of mid to late 90s spots where I would regularly encounter Rudy T and other Rockets staff and players: Los Andes in Greenway The original Berryhill on Revere, when it was just a single hole in the wall location. All you can eat fish tacos on Monday! Edit: and also Jamaica Jamaica down the street on Richmond and Kirby haha