Not a great way to prune palms

Not a great way to prune a palm tree :-(    Saw these palms (I think queen palms, or Syagrus romanzoffiana) on Pond Street in the Castro.   Owner no doubt wanted to keep them under the wires, but by removing the terminal bud, it probably means these trees are history.   Too bad, because palms are so easy to transplant (and mature ones are valuable).  

Queen palms on Pond Street