Why publish a plate for an OTS approach?

I remember this sad incident -
An, older, experienced pilot, whose medical had lapsed.
He was cleard to a de-commissioned approach - a mistake recognized in the
accident report, but not the cause of the accident, which was a sadder, more
typical loss of situational awareness. The pilot simply didn't know where he
was (several miles away form the cleared approach, de-commiossioned or not)
when he hit the TV antenna - end of sad story. . .