I happen to think that you *should* be able to do more with scales in combination - especially in the late game.
If you read the other productivity whining thread, I suggested exactly the benefit you described
It is possible to combine a few really good scales with an awake SC God. Rather, I think, than punishing people for taking some poor scales (which some positions can get away with to a greater or lesser degree as things stand) that it would be better policy to provide a better, multiplicative reward for taking all-good-scales.