The problem is that many projects choose licenses without carefully assessing all the trade-offs. If someone already built the thing you need but chose to release it under the GPL it might as well not exist if you can't use GPL code in your project. This is especially true if the value added by the library is minute in comparison to the overall scope of the project (this is by design). Just ask any developer who inherited a non-GPL project from a junior developer who doesn't understand licenses and accidentally used GNU readline.
If a library naively omits the license altogether (based on a widespread misunderstanding that "no license" means "public domain"), they will usually be able to switch to an open source license easily.
If a library naively uses a permissive license, you can simply incorporate them in your project (whether that project is GPL or not).
If a library naively uses the GPL, not only are they likely locked into it until the end of time but the code might as well not have been written at all unless your project is already GPL or you are willing and able to switch your license to GPL.
I'm glad the GPL is what it is : it's so tough you can't avoid the debate. And that debate is soooooo useful...
You reverse cause and effect. The GPL is what you choose (or in this case choose not) to have the effect you mention. You're not forced to use the GPL nor the projects which uses it.
> I've realised that the GPL licence just causes more pain and frustration to developers.
It doesn't. If it causes pain and frustration it's because GPL forces people into thinking/believing into a political agenda. Disagreeing on political things is always painful. So the problem is not the GPL. The difficulty is that some choose the GPL because of the political thing and therefore, they force (the GPL helps a lot at taht) other developers to interrogate themselves about those political questions. And they may get frustrated or dad or whatever, but ultimately, they realize that they don't align with the ideas embodied in the GPL, or in another way, they realize the cost of sticking to the GPL.
The GPL is not the problem. It suits people whose mind are aligned with the FSF's goals, and for them it's perfectly fine. Just realize that it's not for you.
Now, having practiced the GPL, I can assure you that it definitely embodies the political ideals of the FSF and that sooner or later, you'll come to confront with people who don't get it, and "confront" is not a weak word. Know what you stand for.