I agree it's an incredibly stupid rule. At least in this instance, the refs actually called that one exactly right, it's just a stupid rule. If the player ran to catch the ball and his momentum carried him out, he would be called out where he ran out, why should him touching the ball from out be different? Should either just be out where he touched it, or a penalty like mentioned above.
If a player on the kicking team intentionally runs out of bounds and then re-enters play, it's a penalty (happened in this game). On any given offensive play, if a player on offense intentionally goes out, he can't be the first to touch the ball, it's a penalty. Why is receiving a kickoff any different? If you intentionally go out and are the first to touch the ball, penalty for illegal touch, ball goes where it was touched.