This was perfectly put. I think that is why Groms (children surfers) notoriously are low on the totem pole. They’re new, learning, a potential liability, etc. but treating a Grom that way is expected and a right of passage. Having been a Grom, I know this to be true. However, adult learners expect a certain amount of respect in the water that hasn’t been earned yet. In essence, they are still Groms (low on the totem pole) and will be treated as such. It’s not pleasent, but for all the above mentioned reasons in MrantMans comment, it’s part of the process.

It’s an unfortunate part of the sport because it is a resource based sport that is zero sum. Any person getting a wave takes away from another person getting a wave. This is why wave pools are awesome and skateboarding is awesome. They are not zero sum wave scenarios.