actually, there are usually ways to quit the army, but that's not the question.
They are not assets that belong to the university, they are people whose talents belong to them. It isn't coddling to let people move and go work in a new place.
I bet you can quit your place of work and take a new job anytime you want. Are you being "coddled"?
Some coaches may want this rule change, but I haven't heard of any universities that have said they want it. I don't worry about the coaches - they are paid very well to make things work, and the system works to their advantage to some extent because they can encourage low performers to transfer. The vast majority of players who transfer are looking for a place they can play, they aren't cashing in.