Reason number 1 is because as stated before this was NOT the sole reason for making this change. Free items are to follow the same policies as the Marketplace products because even though they are free, they are still products.

Wow. You heard it here, folks. Your donations to the free stuff area are PRODUCTS whether you like it or not. That is scary language right there. BTW, I notice that we're still using markdown. There is no excuse for that.

She's been around a long time and knows the place. Maybe we'll get what we want eventually.

Only if the upper management changes their minds, as Lobo stated, it was their decision, and they have already heard all opinions on the matter. In other words, these rules are here to stay, because the execs will never be convinced, even if every one of the admins here at some point were to all decide that it is a horrible idea.