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I think benches along trails are much more in line with criteria than most folks think and at least as good as your average trail marker. Why is everyone so willing to accept almost any trail marker but so critical about benches?

What functional purpose does a trail marker along the middle of a trail provide? On its own it does not represent a "great place to explore" or promote exercise much more than markers at each end of the trail, or a marker at an actual point of interest would. The usual claim is that it provides motivation to go further, and by that logic a bench should be no different.

So if a bench is about as good as a marker for promoting exercise or exploration then case closed right? Well there's one more aspect of criteria and that's "a place to be social." A marker along a trail is not that. But a bench? It certainly could be. It's meant to be a place to sit and rest, if you're hiking with a friend you can have a conversation. Or maybe someone else comes along and decides to take a rest as well and you strike up a conversation and make a new friend. You already have at least one shared interest since you're out on the same trail.

As for benches at scenic lookouts, to me this should be an obvious yes. Any natural feature or view is basically impossible to get improved without an anchor point. How is a bench placed to enjoy that feature or view not the perfect anchor point?

A lot of reviewers, especially the ones who frequent this forum have a particular view on criteria and eligibility that is dated and fairly rigid, but I encourage those folks and everyone to take a more open view of things.