This is true, but I think the argument is that for maintainers of the system, it's more work to allow more char options when it (should be) more trivial to chan

This is true, but I think the argument is that for maintainers of the system, it's more work to allow more char options when it (should be) more trivial to change MAX_PASS_LENGTH from 12 to 32. Like, if you're gonna add more restrictions, make it the ones that encourage, not block, more secure passwords.