Who dreams up this nonsense?
Not that someone who’s ultimate goal is to arrive at the cemetery having fulfilled his obligations in the most minimal way possible, could possibly understand. But it’s dreamed up by a group of Yiddim with awareness of their debt to The Ribono Shel Olam, who seek to fulfill His will with mesirus nefesh, who have a sensitivity and a feeling for what behaviors belong to the goyish velt, and wish to remain as far away as possible from those mannerisms to bring nachas to The Abishter. Whether they are required to by Halacha or not.