SET sql_mode = 'STRICT_ALL_TABLES';
Yes, it's not default. Yes, it can be overridden. Yes, that bothers a lot of people.
With good reason. This is your database we're talking about. If it's going to be sloppy with your data by default, it's the wrong tool.
"it's the wrong tool" is an opinion and it is unsupported by history. It many cases, it's exactly the right tool and users are given the power to control the level of strictness they they require. Want to allow GROUP BYs that don't include all non-aggregate columns? Sure, you can do that. Or not. Want MySQL to accept what you give it and throw warnings instead of errors? Yep, you can do that, too. Or not.
The defaults are bad. No one will defend that. They are also easy to change. A privilege level allowing/denying the ability to change the sql_mode would be a welcome addition, also. Yet, MySQL is a capable tool that does some things really well, something things not so well, and some things terribly. Just like every other product out there. It is a tool. It works well for many, but not all cases. Apparently, you find it inadequate for your particular needs. I get that. You shouldn't use it.
As for the "No True Scotsman" notion, fair enough; point conceded. I just can't imagine anyone who actually, you know, cares about their data being happy about finding out — by virtue of the fact that the sloppy behaviors are the default — that they've lost data, or had it corrupted somehow, because of those defaults.
Yes, it's their responsibility, in choosing the tool, to make sure they're using it properly. But the folks making the tool should also have some degree of responsibility to their users not to fuck up their data. Maybe I'm just spoiled, having lived and worked in the PostgreSQL world as long as I have. There, breaking users' data is tolerated about as well as Linus tolerates kernels breaking userspace...