guys it's no different than a fask mask or a horsecollar, used to be legal, isn't anymore. if these guys were playing backyard football with their cousins and brothers, would they launch face to face and risk snapping necks, breaking heads, busting teeeth and noses? no.
it's no different. they CAN control it.
moreover it isn't changing regardless. head to head and your are out. i would like to see penalties for rbs lowering their heads too though. the other option is the trial attorneys taking football from us altogether.
the added benefit is we may see better TACKLING and less formless hitting.
Yes, like the face mask particularly, it is a random thing. The reason why analysts with half a brain do not call the face mask a dirty play is that you are out their grabbing for anything you can get and sometimes you get the face mask. You are right sadly the 5 yard incidental face mask call went away taking away the incentive to let go quickly if you happen to catch the face mask of an opponent.
And you are right the horse collar is similar, though I guess getting your hand in the runner shoulder pads is not a penalty or at least a UF guy who did last night but let go and did not bring the guy down did not get a penalty. And like any other tackle, the UF guy was just grabbing for what he could get when he got his hand in the guys shoulder pads.
As for whether or not the trial attorneys will end college football or not, the NFL started this move to semi-touch football because they did not want the players recognized by the casual fan, QBs and WRs getting hurt. Then after the NFL started acting guilty, the trial lawyers became involved.
As for whether it will improve tackling or not, football happens very fast and is quite instinctual. So I suspect thinking about not getting a horse collar flag or whether or not you will be a targeting penalty and be thrown out of the game etc leads to sloppier tackling and more missed tackles rather than better form tackles.
One solution might be as you suggest might be stressing defenseless players. Someone who is about to or can potentially deliver a blow to you with their helmet or shoulder is not defenseless.