Yann
you're right about some acceptation of copyrighted works...
To answer to Cary Bass, there're some examples in New York streets categories... I don't think that the architect of Apple store or some recents buildings are already dead... so it's a form of acceptation (reagarding fench law)

you're right also about the delay ... 70 years after the 1st january following the dead of the author... (source) I Made a confusion with the american law before 1998 ...

So I'm agree with you, the deletion seems to be a little too reprehensive regarding some accepation and the law.
I also note that there were very few  person involve in this deletion request.

Sincerely
Gdgourou