I am sure that the comment about bench rest shooting being too easy was said with quite a bit of humour in mind, look at the Smiley. No need for everyone to get on their high horses about insults that were never made.
As for the rules I guess the only ones who could possibly have an answer for it are the ones who administer the sport. Some rules make sense and some rules are there just because. What is the justification of not being able to turn the illumination on and off in HFT as the target requires it? None I would say. So there is the possiblity that they just made this rule to bring the sport more in line with FT and HFT bit who knows?

A.G