I would have to express total agreement with you. Having worked my way through this long standing thread, and coming to the Cut from offshore sailing where rafting/breasting up pretty much the norm I would make one or two observations.
There are circumstances whereby I would raft up without asking anyone's permission, circumstances where I would ask permission and circumstances where I wouldn't ask because it would seem to me to be rude to impinge on someone's privacy. The first example where I would not ask for anyone's permission (and would studiously ignore any complaints if they were forthcoming!) is to anyone who had moored on a Water point/elsan point/rubbish disposal/lock waiting bollard. I would assume that they have moored there because they have a problem with their boat (why else should anyone moor there??) so would assume that they consent to being breasted up against. If I go to areas in which there are a lot of continuous moorers (Kennet & Avon anyone?) then I would ask to moor alongside and expect to be allowed to do so. This is in the spirit of 'I won't complain about you if you don't complain about me' known as live and let live. Finally the circumstance where I would not ask is if someone has found the only mooring in an isolated area, under those circumstances they are entitled to their privacy.
Those who object to breasting up using the 'argument' that there are 2000 miles of canal so why should I share 'my' piece ignore the the fact that they do not actually own any part of the system, they are only 'borrowing' it from CaRT.Also they ignore the fact that are only going to be asked to breast up in the congested areas, so where is the problem with that? You aren't going to be asked to share a mooring in the middle of nowhere.
Having gone through life listening to sad people arguing over their car parking 'rights' (no sir, you don't have any 'right' to park outside of your house but you may if there is no-one else there!) I don't want to get embroiled in similar petty arguments on the Cut, life is too short for that!