CSI has changed this rule for their leagues so any foul on the break gives ball in hand anywhere. I think that was mostly done as a simplification. I think it is an improvement. The break rules at eight ball are pretty complicated. (CSI rules are mostly based on WPA rules.)
Of course ball in hand behind the line is a holdover from previous rule sets that did not have ball in hand anywhere on the table under any circumstance. I believe the main justification for keeping it in the current rules was that BIH anywhere was too harsh a penalty for scratching on the break.
Agree that it would be an improvement.
I also agree that the 8 ball break rules are complicated.
IMO they are needlessly and pointlessly complicated. They should be simplified and could be so, very easily. Here is my suggestion:
The following rules apply to the break shot:
(a) The cue ball begins in hand behind the head string.
(b) No ball is called, and the cue ball is not required to hit any particular object ball first.
(c) If the breaker pockets a ball and does not foul, he continues at the table, and the table
remains open. (See 3.4 Open Table / Choosing Groups.)
(d) If no object ball is pocketed, at least four object balls must be driven to one or more rails,
or the shot results in an illegal break, and the incoming player has the option of
(1) re-racking and breaking, or
(2) re-racking and allowing the offending player to break again.
(e) Pocketing the eight ball on a legal break shot is not a foul. If the eight ball is pocketed, the
breaker will:
Re-spot the eight ball and continue his inning with the cueball in position
(f) If the breaker pockets the eight ball and scratches (see definition 8.6 Scratch), the opponent
will:
Respot the 8 and shoot with ball in hand anywhere on the table
g: Any other foul on a break which meets the 4 balls hitting the rail requirement, will result in ball in hand to the opponent, anywhere on the table. If 4 balls did not hit rails, refer to (d).
Compare to WPA with tons of pointless choices:
The following rules apply to the break shot:
(a) The cue ball begins in hand behind the head string.
(b) No ball is called, and the cue ball is not required to hit any particular object ball first.
(c) If the breaker pockets a ball and does not foul, he continues at the table, and the table
remains open. (See
3.4 Open Table / Choosing Groups.)
(d) If no object ball is pocketed, at least four object balls must be driven to one or more rails,
or the shot results in an illegal break, and the incoming player has the option of
(1) accepting the table in position, or
(2) re-racking and breaking, or
(3) re-racking and allowing the offending player to break again.
(e) Pocketing the eight ball on a legal break shot is not a foul. If the eight ball is pocketed, the
breaker has the option of
(1) re-spotting the eight ball and accepting the balls in position, or
(2) re-breaking.
(f) If the breaker pockets the eight ball and scratches (see definition
8.6 Scratch), the opponent
has the option of:
(1) re-spotting the eight ball and shooting with cue ball in hand behind the head string;
or
(2) re-breaking.
(g) If any object ball is driven off the table on a break shot, it is a foul; such balls remain out
of play (except the eight ball which is re-spotted); and the incoming player has the option of
(1) accepting the table in position, or
(2) taking cue ball in hand behind the head string.
(h) If the breaker fouls in any manner not listed above, the following player has the option of
(1) accepting the balls in position, or
(2) taking cue ball in hand behind the head string.
