Don't feel like a lone wolf! I have been looking for some time for someone else with this view, sorry it's so long after your post!
I keep trying to find out "what is wrong with GEDCOM", and (apart from some really minor tweaks) all I can find is example of where poor implementation of the standard means ...
Build a BetterGEDCOM or learn GEDCOMBetter? - Blog comment by kulath - 17 Feb 2012