I suppose I should consider myself blessed. As stated previously when discussing IDPA competition on this forum, I regularly compete in IDPA matches at two clubs and occasionally with a third and fourth club.
I have had occasion to witness confusion or misunderstanding of IDPA rules during matches. Also, in almost every case, these misunderstandings and this confusion is hashed out with the shooters BEFORE a course of fire begins. (I'm not insinuating this is a PERFECT system, or that mistakes are not sometimes made).
In my experience, when the "cover" calls were eliminated from IDPA rules, there was virtually 100% HAPPINESS from competitors and RO's. Perhaps I have just been fortunate, but I have yet to observe, witness, or deal with a RO at the matches that I attend that bemoaned the fact that he/she could no longer call a "cover" reminder or violation on a competitor. Everyone disliked the rule and everyone was glad to see it go away. (Either that, or they did a good job of hiding their feelings and certainly refrained from gnashing their teeth).
I cannot speak to why things are the way they are as depicted at the club mentioned by the OP.
All I can do is put forth with strong confidence, that if the rule being enforced at the clubs I shoot with is incorrect according to the official IDPA rules, the issue has a 99% + chance of being resolved BEFORE the match shooting begins.
I'm not going to beat this horse any longer, but in my experience, almost all the issues I have encountered with club rules or organizational rules (IDPA, USPSA, etc.) can and have been resolved with an intelligent, adult approach to problem solving. I personally hate to see anyone publicly berate ANY shooting sport publicly because it's different from what they are used to or what they personally prefer.
Shooters have enough enemies without making new ones among themselves. Fortunately, I have yet to have anyone from ANY shooting organization FORCE me to pay dues or entry fees, join their club, or participate in their matches. Freedom of choice is a good thing.