deleting deletes is not the same as expiring a delete.

it is not contrary to the spec for clients to send delete events with expirations in any way. you probably just were too caught up with your admin powah to realise that relays are not prohibited from deleting delete events on the basis of expiration. because they are. just like you as relay developer and administrator can override this.

come to think of it, i possibly haven't got an exception to allow administrators to delete delete events. since that's outside of spec and any prohibition of this is contrary to the sovereignty of teh node operator i should check that, making a mental note.