We are taking the 7 Day Rome tour next month. RS book recommend stocking up on Metro tickets at the beginning of your trip. Since most of the tour is planned, we would only need transportation for our free time-afternoons and evenings. Would this suggestion be true, even on a tour?
Tour description, "What's included" states you all get a 7-day Metro Pass.
https://www.ricksteves.com/tours/italy/rome
I just took this tour in February. We were provided a pass that was good for the entire week as part of the tour package. You can hop on and off of as many subways, buses and trams as you like. So no need to to stock up on tickets unless you are arriving a few days early. I only had to buy a couple tickets for my pre-tour time.
Great tour! Have fun!