Headphones prohibited

On the site of Grandma's Marathon on of the first texts your read is this one:

Headphone Rule:

USATF rules (Click here and read rule #144.3b) prohibit the use of headphones and similar devices on the racecourse. This rule will be enforced during Grandma's Marathon,
the Garry Bjorklund Half Marathon, the William A. Irvin 5K, Fitger's 5K, the
Park Point 5-Miler and the Grandma's Minnesota Mile. Runners should not bring
these devices with them to the race. Those carrying/wearing these devices will
be given the option to surrender their music device to a designated race
official prior to entering the starting line gates. Surrendered devices will be
properly packaged and mailed back to their rightful owners within two weeks
after the race. Participants that choose not to surrender their device will be
disqualified from the race and their finishing time will not appear in the
official race results.

I don't think this is the best way to advertise your run! OK they start of with this line:

Grandma's Marathon is a point-to-point course run along the beautiful north
shore of Lake Superior. The 26.2-mile stretch begins on scenic Old Highway
61, just outside Two Harbors, Minnesota and finishes in Duluth's Canal Park.
Enthusiastic volunteers, spectators and live entertainers line the streets
to cheer runners on as they stride to the finish line.

That sounds more like it. If you make it a rule that headphones are
prohibited point it out in the regulations for the participants. Of course you can argue if it is necessary to prohibit use. Supposedly runners with headphones don't hear officials or other runners and the rule: "Keep your volume low so you can hear your surroundings" is hard to check. By the way: Be honest....would you still pay attention to some official shouting along the route after you hvae run 30k or more? They really have to be in my face to be noticed...

I myself seldom run with music, certainly not during a marathon where I want as little ballast as necessary. When running in nature I like to experience the sounds as well as for in the city...I need the sounds to make sure I am running save. For example a cyclist ready to overtake me cannot be heard while running with music. Even if the volume is turned very, very low. But that is a matter of taste and I can understand that people get a boost from running with music and that this might help them to finish a marathon so why prohibit the use of headphones?