It's VERY obvious to me too, Rich.
And Bob, I apologize profusely if I am one of those laboring over the 3foot non-needed putt, as I have indeed been known to do that! In my defense I only do this if things are slow to begin with and we're gonna wait on the next tee anyway. I am VERY red-faced thinking back that I might have done this with you... I don't think I have - moving things along is always a bigger priority than score for me that's for sure... but if I have, rest assured it will NOT happen again. Jeez I would HATE to be the slow one in a group... I don't think I ever am, but maybe I didn't realize....
In any case, Rich and Bob have the weaknesses of our handicapping system quite well articulated. As a new member of the establishment working to facilitate such, all I can say in our defense is we are giving the people what they want. Remember that I'm a new course rater - setting policy is WAY beyond our scope!
"Tournament-based" handicaps, as they do in Scotland, are so far a better way to do this it's laughable to even discuss. The problem here is, however, that way way way more people want to have an index, for defining and bragging and games against friends purposes, than ever play in actual tournaments... Thus the USGA gives people a way to establish such.
As for the rules used in recording scores, if you're gonna allow posting scores from any round, which is what the people want here, than creating odd rules for such just becomes part of the package.
It's not the best way, it's not the right way, but it is the way people want things, for better or worse here.
TH