[Russell Sobie]

Bad drivers typically don't keep going after they wreck themselves out. They either quit the server immediately, or, thinking they were the wronged party in some collision, make the rest of the race a pain for other drivers.

I'd much rather the damage setting balance out the fact that collision results in AC are bonkers most of the time, than it be some sort of deterrent of poor behavior (which, as I'll continue to argue, is not a deterrent).