IMO - this, exactly.If people didn't try gaming the system things would work out much better. Thank those who have tried, for the current state of affairs.
I think the parties involved failed to account for the stereotypical internet VW idiot... flatbrim dumbass trying to scam his way and just be a punk in general by turning in a car with no doors, seats, etc. for internet notoriety and clicks on his twitspace feed.
A handful of those, and now you get the knee-jerk reaction that will likely trap more innocent, well-intentioned people who have only acted in good faith into situations like this.
I think we're now seeing a case of "spirit of the law" vs. "letter of the law" - the "spirit", I'm sure, was that cars be turned in, in good shape, in generally the same condition that the owners used them on a daily basis... such that, likely, they could be repaired and resold - even tho the "letter" merely states "operable".
What will be enforced in the courts is the "letter" of the law, and that's why we're starting to see/hear about these new minimum requirements trickling out at various dealers.