I would respect Mrs Somers views, and I did expect the reasoning might be something like this, Tudor.
Sometimes decisions are difficult, and I would not enjoy having to be the one to suggest to the good lady sponsor that we might need to 'redraft the arrangements'. Surely there are alternatives during this unofficial 'transition' period to overt non-compliance, supported by sentimental reasoning, however much it might tug at the heart?
PS I am as sentimental as they come!
Yet I cannot agree with your suggestion that this is a law too far. The whole of Europe can't be that far wrong, and it's not just Europe either, is it?