Too PC for me.

[Spongebob]

Who exactly - are they being considerate for?


Safe bet - no direct answer forthcoming.

Wow, that's really unfair.  You've gotten dozens of direct answers to this topic and pretty much rejected on all of them despite them being mostly sincere responses.

I don't know if you read my earlier post about how older people when I was young demanded to be addressed in a respectable way, such as sir, ma'am, miss and so forth.  I don't see how these expectations are any different than the one's you are complaining about now.  They are all arbitrary.  All of them have something to do with dignity and respect.  It's also socially expected to refer to people holding a PHD as Dr., though this appears to be fading somewhat.  These things are all in the same purview.  Have you ever addressed a member of the police as "ossifer"?  Man, you'll get body slammed for that.

Funny side note.  When General Washington became the first US President, there was a lively debate about how to properly address him/the office.  Numerous suggestions abounded, some of them lengthy and noble, but eventually it was decided that it should simply be Mr. President.  Imagine how different it might be now if John Adams had gotten his way and the address became "His Highness, the President of the United States of America and the Protector of their Liberties"!!