A lot easier to get it on and off the car that way. One person on each end, Lift, and walk forward.
Getting it on fore and aft is going to take a lot more effort.
The whiners are folks that do what they are told, and can’t think outside the box.
Well I think it’s just darling and precious.
If they are only driving the center strip 400 or 500 yards to their home at about 15 MPH to avoid the inevitable flutter of the canoe and also avoid 18 wheelers and patrol cars and any (any) traffic it might sorta work. (Someone should follow with a "Wide Load" sign.)