All I can say is, even though it took them a few years to realize it, even BuildCraft decided it was for the best to nix exploding pipes, especially after TE came along and made versions which didn't explode that became fairly popular in a short time. By making explosion mechanics worse IC2 is only moving us backwards, in my opinion. Especially when you take into account how much more aggravating it is to re-craft something now which you exploded.
Id bet $100 that is not why they removed it. They still ahve items popping out of BC pipes, if anything was going to change it would be that. I asked just the other day if that had changed, and spactoad said there was no change and no plan to change pipes to not drop items.
If BC wsa changing like you said, pipes would work more like item ducts. BC wants to keep small things in that punish you if you fail. Popular also does not mean 'better'.
Mods that have no penalties are like if someone could install a mod that kept mario from dying when he falls in a hole. "This mod puts mario back up to a safe area if he would fall in a hole! No more tedium and aggravation of having to restart levels!"
Restarting levels IS aggravating. And when you finally beat it, it's much more satisfying than if you had a mod that kept you from dying. Next thing you know, they will put mods in these packs that let you skip nighttime completely, to avoid the 'tedium of avoiding mobs!'
Oh wait... Morpheus and Sleeping Bags.
They already did.