This is really non-news. Every since the 3 unit rule was put in place it was unenforceable.
When urethane became the lane surface of choice on wood, the even oil rule made lanes virtually unplayable. You were playing on US open conditions with rubber and plastic balls.
Owners of the centers, who have invested millions in today's dollars, were not going to have all their league bowlers quit so they started blocking the lanes.
Of course in the shellac and lacquer days lanes were blocked some as well but the track area was formed and pretty much dictated how you had to play the lanes and score.
So after being sued thousands of times for denying honor scores the ABC came out with short oil thinking that limiting the distance would would keep the block affect down but it didn't, scoring boomed. Certain styles could just kill short oil.
With new urethane and resin balls scores went even higher.
Eventually the ABC said UNCLE and put the 3 unit in which was essentially a invitation to block lanes.
Proprietors have always catered to the bowlers complaints, they have the money on the line, not the USBC.
Hell if they put down the amount of oil they did in the 70's non of the hook monsters today would work at all, they would roll out at the arrows. And bowlers complained to the owners that they couldn't use their new $200 hook monster, so they put out more oil to satisfy them and make others buy the new hook monsters.
Every change has helped some bowlers and styles and hurt others.
But money drives the game and always will.
