i'm fine with it if it is always refered to as a strong man deadlift, not an actual deadlift.
Thats right... Different sport, different rules... Is what it is... They just want the biggest poundage's lifted, period.
Dont get me wrong, 70's/80's vintage RAW powerlifting is my favorite genre of the iron game.
(No, "nude men in thongs or sandals" is not).
But Strongman is a close second, and they've always had gadgets, contraptions and giant poundages.
It does give advantge to a few with piss-poor grip (Kearney, etc) who just so happens to be an amazing deadlifter in-straps/wraps...