Margin properties apply to all elements

In CSS1 and in the individual CSS2 property definitions, margins apply
to all elements without exception.

But sections 9.1.1, 9.3.3 and 9.4.3 in the CSS2 draft state otherwise.
In 9.3.3 and 9.4.3, it's stated that left, right, top, and bottom
replace margin-left, margin-right, margin-top, and margin-bottom for
absolutely positioned elements.

Why complicate the spec with alternate properties and exceptions? Why
not simply expand the definition of margins to encompass absolute
positioning?

As exceptions are added to properties, CSS starts to resemble the
plethora of inconsistent elements and attributes of proprietary HTML,
and the specification becomes increasingly dense.

David Perrell