You can't address the underlying problem that a difference in an A and a A- could very well have lasting effects on a person's life.

You can't address the underlying problem of someone making it to their late teens and being a little shit.

You can't address the underlying problem that some people don't even really want to be in your class but "have" to take it because they want a degree.

You can't address the underlying problem that some students have spent the last 19 years rules-lawyering their parents and always getting their way.

You can't address the underlying problem that any concessions you make for the 20 year old mother of two struggling with two full-time jobs on top of college will also be vehemently claimed by the stoner 20 year old with a parent on the Board and who thinks college is awesome except for the classes.

You can't address the underlying problem that the university gave you a class size three times what it would need to be for you to be able to provide each student with the requisite attention to really address anything other than "did they meet the criteria".

Seems like a trivial thing to say there is an underlying cause. Student should still be failed for cheating. Definitely not like a research physicists job to address a students personal issues