In reply to tradwanker:
> Educate a confused dumb American with a staunch trad background.
You're right to be confused, and are not being dumb, it's a good question. The reason these bolts are tolerated is purely and simply because of history. The bolts in this climb are old aid bolts, placed decades ago, back in the day before gritstone's 'clean' ethic became fully established (I'm sure somebody will be along soon with the full history).
In the years since, gritstone climbing has developed an ethic which is free of all bolts, and free of all aid (aid climbing is still possible on the grit of course, but very uncommon, and only tolerated with 'clean' pro i.e. anything involving a hammer is not 'allowed'). As this new route has been climbed in the modern era, it must/should stick to modern ethics.
I guess the argument is that the bolts are there, and they are part of the area's climbing history and culture. Replacing them is a non-starter, so you might as well use them.
My one personal preference would have been to see the route led without using them, and then have them removed. But that is neither here nor there, because I'm not the one out there climbing the thing!