In these cases I often wonder if there is a piece of software (or three) to blame. When someone's role is tied to a form requires them to pick an option, and gives no free-text alternative, this creates a recipe for making mindless, illogical demands. But in truth, it's not the underwriter, really: it's the underwriter parroting their bad software that is making mindless, illogical demands. (And the manager who gives instructions like, "Just fill out the form. No, I don't want to hear about exceptions. The form has worked for 15 years, why are you so special?")