The moment when the client wants more than 10 allowed values (but not unlimited) for a field:
<?php
/**
* Implements hook_form_alter().
*/
function MODULENAME_form_alter(&$form, $form_state, $form_id) {
if ($form_id == 'field_ui_field_edit_form') {
$max_values = 20;
$form['field']['cardinality']['#options'] = array('-1' => t('Unlimited')) + drupal_map_assoc(range(1, $max_values));
}
}