they may just be simple devices to prevent a new character from being instantly placed in a position of power/influence (i.e., OOC powergaming with your friends, or reinstating a player via his new character when the old one dies)
the limits are really quite low for that stuff, and not hard to reach in a few weeks (which a new char has to wait before switching class anyway)
Those were my thoughts.
Cheap to kill the enemy ruler, and to see him create a new character and get elected right back into office as if nothing ever happened.
