Well.. That is a VERY interesting question, Kevin. I definitely don't know the answer. But when it comes to a very popular, widely played game such as this one, there NEEDS to be some standards. And for whatever reason, THAT rule is part of the accepted standards.
If the scenerio you described was allowed to happen, and was generally accepted as allowed to happen, then I would be quite happy with it. I an a complete game addict (as I'm sure you are too) and part of the FUN in playing a game is the ways in which the rules sometimes work FOR you and sometimes work AGAINST you... Its part of what is beautiful about games. (LOL .. corny, I KNOW... but I just absolutely LOVE games!)

It brings up an interesting topic. Well, interesting to me, because I don't much about it. But, how DO game rules get changed? or get accepted? DO they EVER get changed?

I'm glad you asked that question of "Why?" .. It got me thinking. I may have to do some research.. or does anyone have some answers?

But regardless.. as I said, with games of such huge popularity as Backgammon, at some point there NEEDS to be some standards. And that is one of the BASIC rules of backgammon. And being the QUALITY site that I believe this is, I would like to see it comply with the rules.
It certainly WON'T drive me off if it doesn't though.