I think we are overlooking a little thing here. Until a few year ago there was no organisation trying to force anyone to include this standard in their cost of business. And lets be completely honest; if some nurb draws an element in a cad file on the wrong layer, with or without the wrong line type no one dies, the building doesn't collapse, and the clients check clears the bank.
As to those other standards drug into the fray, if one specifies the wrong joist on hangerrs, etc then the integrity of the building will suffer and someone might die. In regards MUTC even properly applied those barricade diagrams can STILL get people killed unless a lot of logic is applied on top of the guidelines listed for sign type, size, and spacing per design speeds.
The 'standard' in question does not serve any purpose than to forward the agenda of the committee involved in making it, and then selling it. This particular standard does little to serve health or safety of humanity, and that is what separates them. In regards those other 'standards' they too should be free, so that they would encourage easier compliance, and inspection. However as some or most of the money from the sale of those publications, goes back into safety research, and education, I'm OK with that.