What's even worse is asking for re-entry stamps.

Unfortunately I have the joy of at some point dealing with UK Immigration again for my wife (moving back at some point) and we need to justify our existence or not existence in a country to them and entry/exit stamps are the easiest ways of doing that.

It's always hillarious how they have to take the passports in to the office to get them stamped. You would think they would keep at least 1 stamp primed at the gates just in case someone asks for a stamp.

Personally I think it's a good thing the gates are not well advertised - only those in the know go - the registration booths are Narita / KIX are definitely out of the way and you only know to go there if you have read up.