Zec pretty much confirmed that, it is essentially to hand hold new users. However IMHO a simple checksum at the activation stage could be inserted to protect experienced users from potentially losing a chunk of FCT time.I suspect it could be a response to the complaints they get about FCTs not working because the users did not know that they had to activate them. So it is a "Catch-22" situation.
- Auto-activation solves the complaints issue but means that those who already have a working but limited time FCT will have your issue (and may not even know about it) OR
- Self-activation solves your particular issue but not the complaints about FCTs not working.