Beagle the utter f**kwits who implemented the scheme were members of the GD Branch - I know, I was at MOD at the time. So please, no more talk about blunties and beancounters!
But to be fair - MOD were telling people (via the AMPLT tours) that it would bite everyone on the bum if it were introduced but there were too many people out there who couldn't see beyond their nibbled piece of toast to see the big picture. Ergo, the decision makers caved in to the popular vote. Ah well, that's democracy for you.
This all seems to be similar to the "thin tie" debacle. Ties used to be of a reasonable width and then came the civvy fashion for thin ties. AMPLT teams were beseiged with moans about the width of ties and after a few years eventually the width of ties were changed to a thinner version. Yep, you've guessed it. By the time that contracts were let and the ties introduced into clothing stores the fashion had come around full circle and wider ties were now being called for.