I find it much easier, and enjoyable, to follow rules if I can understand the rationale for the rule. One that I don't understand is the prohibition of grounding your club in a hazard.

It wasn't always that way. The 1829 rules of the Society of Saint Andrews Golfers simply said "no obstruction bent down or leveled with the club." That would leave considerable scope for grounding.

Later rules changed to "no impression made by the club". Even that would allow lightly placing the club on the ground. It wasn't until 1891 that the rules completely prohibited grounding the club.

Of course you can say it's fair because it appllies to everone equally, or that "Those are the rules", but can anyone explain why the rule aids in following the spirit of the game?