Why would this be sad? Each recommendation is unique, and not every recommendation is going to be good. I've seem some rather screwball recommendations come out of committees over the past 25 years. Thankfully the boards did not accept the vast majority, but a few snuck through.

Why is some recommendation from any board appointed committee automatically deemed to be of more value/importance/better/whatever than the ultimate decision of those elected to actually make the decisions?

The beauty of a committee recommendation is in the eye of the beholder. In the end, however, the only eye that matters is the board's collective one.