Well, actually when we look at Rules 30.3 and especially at 30.4, it really isn’t. Remember what I said in the post on Rule 29 – Recalls… Sailing is somewhat unique in that if you fail to start properly, you get to correct it and try again. In football, it’s a 5-yard penalty; in soccer, the other team gets a penalty kick – a “free” chance to score; at the highest levels in track, it’s an automatic disqualification.
The point of starting penalties in sailing is to encourage sailors to “do the right thing” and start properly. Remember, in most cases, we are a self-policing sport (no “referees”) and good sportsmanship should always govern our actions on the water. Starting properly isn’t an exception to that ideal.
But, Hey! At least you aren’t disqualified, right?