I'd say giving one a grade they didn't earn, because it is more convenient for you, is the wrong thing. It's surely a breach of ethics to evaluate someone's wo

I'd say giving one a grade they didn't earn, because it is more convenient for you, is the wrong thing. It's surely a breach of ethics to evaluate someone's work and report that they did better than you concluded they did for convenience. I'd call that ethical breach "the wrong thing." OP said to think twice about "honest grading" so I think dishonest grading is the problem with what you are calling "soft grading." I don't think anyone inside wants it changed, I don't think anyone ever does when a broken system benefits them more than those outside. That's why it was in quotes.