Actually, the purpose of the CMP is to generate funds for their programs. They walk a fine line between keeping the volume of sales up and preventing profiting by consumers.
In the mid 2000’s before they put some limits on ammunition sales folks would back up to the CMP stores and overload their pick up truck. The CMP quickly ran out if ammunition and new Garand owners could not find ammunition. The CMP then put limits on ammunition purchases.
Around the same time, the management of CMP decided they could not police what rifle purchasers did with the riflies after the sale was complete. To minimize the uproar, they instituted the 12 per year limit. Enough to keep sales up but low enough to not be too limiting for buyers.
Also, they started auctioning rifles with higher collector’s value again to generate more funds.
Around this time frame, the purchasing requirements were made easier to meet but information was slow to get out. Many folks did not know about the CMP and thought the gun show resales were the only way to get a Garand.
Like it or not, understand CMP’s position.