So student athletes should be penalized for being athletes? I'm not following your argument.
The only sports that require students to sit out a year are men's/women's basketball, men's ice hockey, football, and men's baseball. Every other NCAA sport allows players to transfer and become immediately eligible. Most of those sports provide full scholarships as well and there is zero repercussion. I'm guessing it comes down to money, but I think it's BS that certain athletes get complete freedom while others are penalized. Furthermore, the players who are penalized for transferring play on higher revenue sports that fund the low revenue ones where players have complete freedom.
Another thing-- 4 year scholarships are not guaranteed. Players get asked to leave programs all of time and are essentially forced to uproot their lives, go through recruitment again and transfer to a brand new situation if they want to keep a scholarship. Not all players are dying to leave their program and transfer, yet they're basically forced out or told they'll ride the bench for their career and then have to sit out for a year should they leave.