I don't disagree with you. But also there are many factors that go into these decisions. It's not that black and white. Engineers have to consider a lot of city state and federal laws rules and regulations. Such as ADA requirements. Utility interaction (existing and future). How the general public will use and abuse them. Because people are dumb. Engineers often have to thing about how to help the dumbest of us.

Also everytime the bollards get hit they need to be redone. If it's just a surface scratch then no but any kind of hit that can damage a car. Because the integrity of the bollard is compromised and it won't work as designed the next time it gets hit.

Also proper drainage needs to occur around the bollards otherwise water will degrade the metal and they are no longer useful to protect.