This rule wouldn't be an issue if players and teams hadn't decided to throw away the regular season. The intent of the rule is not to penalize players that got injured for more than 79% of the season. It was to penalize players that intentionally rested, took games off, and disappointed fans for more than 20% of the season.
The NBPA agreed to the terms of this in the collective bargaining agreement. They made their bed. Now they need to lay in it.
I'd probably be all for a shorter season if that's what the players want, but players need to stop acting like victims of a greedy and unfair league all the time.