Gas Ranges

It makes sense in a way: if you have a piezo-electric starter in the oven and the oven fails to light, the fumes could build up in the oven without anyone being aware of it, and then a spark/flame, and BOOM. Even an unlit pilot light could create a pretty good sized pocket of fumes in a couple hours. You're more likely to notice that a stove top burner hasn't lit, thus avoiding a build-up of gas. Making it a PIA ensures that the user is aware that it is lit. Also a certain amount of CYA by the company.

I installed the sparker to ignite the pilot light and it sure saves my knees. :)