The point of essay is arguments and making reader believe you. Of course you can answer question in one paragraph, but that is only part of point. Another one is to verbalise multiple arguments to support and deny your position.
You may notice that the second example is TERRIBLE writing: too many modifiers, uncomfortable sentence structure, repetition of full names instead of pronouns, uses and defines "cost benefit analysis" instead of... not doing that. But it's longer! Easier to fit that length minimum! If you intend to require a depth of argument or a number of pros and cons, say you'll grade on that.
2.) The style of writing in your second example would not get you good grade in writing course. Simple as that, while long enough, it is not good enough.
Depth of argument is not contradictory to good sentence structure. Or to good overall structure. The essay is not actually graded on smartness of argument, but on whether you present them well.
And yes, writing courses focuse on writing elements of text. Just like programming assignement focuses on coding and less on your work being useful.
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What you did there is trying to hack writing assignment. It typically does not work, teachers are typically not that dumb. They would however simply call that "bad writing" or "did not put in effort" rather then flattering "hacking the text".