If it's holding a double standard, it's a similar double standard to one I hold myself.

I think a lot of the question behind the substitutions comes from the intent. The intent behind serving drink syrups rather than small beer is a lot more understandable and comendable than the replacing of other spices with allspice. One is a change based on modern necessity and the other, who knows.

And tomatoes in a stew? There's nothing that would stop me complaining about that. I'm still going on about the chocolate pudding I ran into two years ago!