Donutz,
You should also understand that many folks just prefer to accept an easy, quick and cheap option regardless of any technical regulation issues. Especially when Embassies demand all manner of information to prove, for example, marital status and to prove that indeed the applicant will be travelling with their spouse. All perfectly legal under the rules.
Besides which most folks also have no motivation to complain about the tough stance oftentimes exhibited by the Embassies, especially given the extraordinary length of time taken to resolve them.

Your links to the rules are of course technically correct, but sometimes it's just not practical to engage in battle when planning a nice European holiday soonest.

Try to consider both sides of the coins.
There are plenty of examples around showing how Embassies can be a pain.