Sorry, I'm a AC rewards noob, but I'm becoming frustrated because I clearly don't understand how the AC rewards system works. Perhaps the experts can clarify. For example:

YYZ to YYC, 777 or 787 in J -- I search for 1 ticket, I get 28K points per direction, so 58K total. Then I search for two tickets, all parameters the same, and the return ticket is 80K each? ... ?

If that's the case, what is stopping me from buying two individual tickets back to back for the lower price, or transferring points to my spouse's account and buying it cheaper on the exact same aircraft?

This has been true whether I search for May, July or October, as an example, just picking random dates. What gives?

Same deal looking at flights internationally - makes it impossible to get a good deal as a couple.