Stroads are best understood as a product of emergent evolution. That is to say, no thinking went into their development, except as incremental, thoughtless upgrades from what was probably once a rural country road.

The only good thing about stroads is that when they're demolished and rebuilt properly, there's usually enough room to build an express two-lane road, or two-way busway, or dual-track light rail line, plus room for adjacent frontage/access roads for local traffic.

The land and technology exists to build things properly, but often not the political and community will.