I think it is understood in the SEC, meaning the kids know it going in. Does not make it right by any means, but I doubt any are really caught off guard by it.
I would like to see every conference, every team play by the same rules. Certain classes, grade requirements and the same grading system accross college football. A minimum mark that has to be met, if you want to have higher standards, IE Notre Dame, Stanford, Duke, Northwestern fine. But everyone should start on even footing. We had some years where we had a distinct advantage with partial qualifiers, gigantic walk on program and the like. We pushed the rules to the limit, or at least I hope we did. Bama and the SEC are taking advantage of rules that the rest seem to have to abide by.
I think it is tough on the kids and keeps some of them off of other rosters, but overall it does not affect Bama that much.