I was intentionally breaking a different rule, but if I hadn't full looted (2!) people, it would have taken much longer to get denied, and possibly not have happened at all.

People get emotional about full loots because character power (and this is a power fantasy game) resides unduly in what you are carrying instead of what you are. It's pretty prevalent in all D&D derivative games, but nothing says it has to be. CF's version is especially harsh since limited items are a thing.