Making it a total loss is a nonsense. It makes no economic sense, neither is it a green solution. All the metal parts on Hammonds car, plus the wheels would be salvageable. If the water wasn't deep the hood would be salvageable. The whole thing is ridiculous.
On some cars it does seem nuts to do this but I imagine legal liability is the main problem, keeping dangerous or risky repaired cars off the road. It would make more sense to treat things like damaged Aero's like cases of wine. Buy the wreck, dismantle it for spares and lay them down until the mature (no others to be found) and then bring them out for sale! The lumpy bits should be fairly safe if selected carefully.
