I agree with you. I think the same of rec teams or low lever TB that run the whole delayed steal game all the time. It just a cheap way to win when you could be working on hitting and fielding. I not saying that it's wrong to delay steal at the right time, but as a major offensive strategy it tends to stop working once you play real softball.They can continue in that case.
The look back rule says they can't stop/hesitate, so if they run to first and keep going to second it doesn't matter where the ball is.
What kind of stinks about this is that in 10U it works really well. So many 10U teams (especially rec) can't get the out, even if they know what to do. And a runner that knows how to be in a rundown can usually outlast a 10U team that will eventually not throw the ball or make a bad throw.
It's border-line bush league crap in my opinion. I mean just steal on the first pitch and you honestly have better odds of being safe at second, and at least don't look like a total douche-bag, trophy-hunting daddy baller.