I don't think you are making a fuss over this as it is a valid point/question. By using the EX in with the MT, I think the older stewards of our trade (Burdock and Carter and icons like that) were not too concerned with a MINT grade and had no issue tying it to EX.
Obviously now with TPGs dotting the landscape, there is a ton of difference between EX and Mint but those standards or grades kind of stuck. I did mean stuck and not suck!
I guess....just my 2 cents.
Thanks, Mike