For a Linux driver it wouldn't be acceptable to compromise functionality like this as it's expected to work equally well on big iron as on laptops. So we have to tweak a lot more to achieve the same level of battery life.
The case I was referring to was with the Ethernet cable still plugged in. They seem to suspend the Ethernet controller but don't wake it when packets come in, presumably because the controller doesn't support that. The machine appears dead from the outside after a few seconds of inactivity.
It seems like that would affect more than ssh connections, e.g. you wouldn't be able to receive email notifications.