Every bowling center I have ever bowled in had returns that either damaged my bowling balls or returned them with grease or waxy residue. It is just a byproduct of heavy objects being handled by a machine with gears, belts, and pullies.
The USBC has simply decided that the current equipment is the "problem" and is focusing their attention on it. Dry towels only, no balance holes, coverstock absorption rate limits, blah blah blah. The balls are blowing up patterns, so why bother strictly enforcing patterns now?
Bowlers are then forced to self govern and enforce the rules amongst each other. "Hey you can't use a wet towel!". "Hey, your ball can't have that extra hole!" "Hey no thumb bowler, you can't have a ball with a thumbhole and not put your thumb in it!" "Hey no thumb bowler where is the mark showing center of grip on your ball?". "Hey you didn't have all of your fingers in your gripping holes when you picked up that spare!"
Typical response from bowlers? "I will do what I want...mind your own &$#@ business!"
It's just getting to be a bit much and encouraging the proliferation of unsanctioned leagues.