The origin of this rule was that Douglas Crockford doesn't like ++.
From JavaScript: The Good Parts (May 2008):
> The ++ (increment) and -- (decrement) operators have been known to contribute to bad code by encouraging excessive trickiness. They are second only to faulty architecture in enabling viruses and other security menaces. The JSLint option plusplus allows the use of these operators.
Needless to say, I'm with you and hackthemack on this.
Appearently its really confusing if you put a bunch of newlines between the ++ operator and its ophand. No kidding.