The $64 question isn't what you posted

Gee, what would be worse? Shutting down the EBT, perhaps never to run again, or letting it stagger inexorably into the future until their luck runs out, and someone gets killed? I would say the latter, because that may have repercussions that could destroy the entire steam railroading industry, if not through knee-jerk legislation, then through sky-high insurance rates.
The argument that since they can’t afford to maintain their equipment, they shouldn’t be regulated holds no water. If someone got pulled over for an out of date inspection sticker, should the cop let them go just because they say that they are a deadbeat and can’t afford to maintain their car? Should only rich people be forced to have their cars inspected? Even though they are driving on the same roads? B---S---! If it costs X amount to play the game, then be prepared to pay it, or get out. If you don’t then you are a hazard to yourself, and everyone in the vicinity
The new steam rule is much more then a slip of paper. It is a comprehensive package to inspect and determine the strength of every last part of a locomotive boiler. It was created in very large part by experts in steam railroading, easily the most knowledgeable people in the country regarding locomotive boilers, with the goal of seeing these old engines into the indefinite future. It is set up for seasonal operation, and is much friendlier to present day operators the old rule was.
The inspections by PA are a “cross your fingers ‘til the hydro’s over” farce. Nobody really knows the condition of the interior of some of the boilers, because they have never had all of their tubes removed since before 1956. That’s forty years of operation with no inspection. When most boilers of that age are thoroughly inspected, they are threatened with having their pressure reduced due to thinning of the steel plates. When PA did a “thorough” inspection several years ago the boilers were “uprated” to 200 PSI. No kidding, it’s stamped on the backheads. Baldwin said that they were good for 180 PSI back before WWI. So have all those years of operation on creek water made them stronger than when new? Of course not. What it means is that somebody screwed up their calculations. So, is the boiler safe, or not? Literally, nobody knows.