[tachyonbeam]

Not entirely arbitrary. Don't get me wrong, I like responsiveness, but extreme acceleration is necessarily less safe. Slower acceleration makes a vehicle more predictable, not just for the driver but for other vehicles and pedestrians too.

[bloody-crow]

Certain road situations require faster accelerations to get out of safely and while you can employ safety techniques and driving style to avoid getting into them, they still do exist.

Tesla Model S Performance with its 0-60 under 3 seconds can still accelerate and drive very slowly and smoothly if the driver chooses to do so, while Mazda with artificially "slowed" acceleration can never go fast. At the end of the day, the car with more artificial limitations gives you less options and is inherently less safe.

[forwhomst]

The article does not support your conclusion. It may be that you just have to press the pedal more to get a given amount of torque.