MrApproach,
The other aspect to the answer to your question could be found by asking the NAStronauts why they so vehemently support real Class E at just above the airport. I'll tell you: so VFR can do their own thing without talking to anybody. They would be quite happy with VFRs overflying Broome at 2500ft saying nothing to anybody. Commonsense? Good Airmanship? Those piloting traits don't exist any more, at least in the airspace debate.
Yes, you are right, RPT pax expect a little more safety that that, and they have my full support. It is ridiculous that in this day and age we have people demanding to fly wherever they like with total disregard for other airspace users, with the regulators allowing them to (well, almost).
A few years ago, for a short period, we had VFRs doing their own thing in busy terminal airspace. It was a preposterous situation where big jets had to get vectored around VFR light aircraft or were given traffic on them. Crazy. After a couple of TCAS RAs (what did everybody expect?), AsA fortunately changed the airspace back.
You are now required to wear seat belts, and horses and carts aren't allowed on freeways because people can't use their commonsense (or didn't have any to start with, or are too arrogant and selfish to employ it). Similar rules are created for the safety of the majority of airspace users. If that is called catering to the lowest common denominator, then so be it.