Home depot is pretty bad about the excessive number of spots. Walmart’s are always full to the brim.
It's not Home Depot's fault there are so many - it's the government/Disabilities act (ADA). It specifies that a certain number of parking spots must be "accessible".
For example, if there are between 301 and 400 parking spots in the lot, there must be at least 7 accessible spots and 1 van spot.
Quite frankly, I don't think you would have as much backlash if there were some common sense applied rather than just it being a numbers game. (Of course, it's government, so there is no common sense...)
For example, let's be honest - you don't need as many handicapped spots at Home Depot or Lowe's as you do at Walmart. You just don't. I'm NOT saying that those with handicaps do not go to Home Depot or Lowe's - but I'd have to say not quite as many frequent those places compared to something more general like Walmart. That just on anecdotal observations - I have never, ever, ever seen more than one or two of the blue spots used up at the Lowe's near here. But there at least 8 or 10.
As for getting a placard, I have the opposite problem with my dad. He's been having some trouble walking longer distances, but he refuses to get a placard. I'd love to take him to a baseball game, but we would have to park too far from the stadium for him to walk. If he had a placard, I could see doing it, but I guess pride wins out.