If the penalty does not scale to the day on a devalued day you could finish the task, arrive low, and have less points then you started the day with. The point penalty vs climb penalty only works if you have a climb to take. We all screw up final glides and if there is no climb to take the prudent thing to do us land out under the point penalty rule as proposed. On a tough day the landout might also help devalue the day further limiting the hit of a landout. You can also miss the finish line and land with an airport bonus which might be tactically prudent but not safe. Penalties like the point scenario are intended to incentivize safety (promoting safety is always worth going after)but very often unintentionally encourage unsafe flying.