Given that the sides of the dodecahedron aren't parallel to one another and you therefore cannot look through it from one side to the other (only two side are parallel), your "completely obvious" theory falls pretty flat. Kinda seems like you arrived at this "completely obvious" conclusion without actually examining one. If this is "completely obviously" what it's for, why would they go to the trouble of putting little balls on every corner? Why would they make them consistently of bronze instead of other materials? You should think a little harder before pronouncing things "completely obvious."
There are holes in the sides of the dodecahedron of various diameter giving you six ways to look through the shape (from smaller-to-larger diameter hole).
The balls you mention are another interesting point — why they would even be there for a "range finder".
