I agree crappy sticks should not be used, but there are some that are very bright and are not an issue. Thing is most won't figure it out and use whatever they find at walmart.
Honestly lights shouldn't even be as big of an issue if people would be courteous with each other. When passing a boat, its super easy to pull your spread in a little bit and then let it back out. Anyone half way good at fishing should be able to handle that without much effort. The issue is that many guys want to run wide spreads in congested areas and then not move them. I see guys doing this on shorelines and they'll have one bait in 6' of water and on the other side they got a bait in 40'. They setup in shallower water so I know that outside bait is close to 30' from bottom. Then they wonder why we catch more fish using tighter spreads, our baits are in the appropriate depth... Common thing I see, and then when the boats meet head on, one guy ends up in no man's land and is wasting their time because they have to do a bat turn and go way around. If people were decent, everyone would have a better experience and have less interruptions. I know it won't ever happen, people don't care.