Like most people in high-ranking government positions whose choices cannot be contested, I think there is a combination of being detached from what it is like to be on the "other side of the fence" and also a bit of wanting to justify their authority by means of forcing people to do stuff.
It's maddening and I am very happy I am not dealing with this anymore. My friends in Thailand are constantly updating me about this and they are quite envious of the visa situation I find myself in over here in Vietnam.