It gets in the timechain anyway because they fit within consensus. Node-level filtering only prevents types of spam that people aren't willing to pay for; not what they are willing to pay for (since they can go directly to miners).
So it's down to either proposing a consensus change that actually limits that stuff from getting in there, or it's mainly just performative.
Yes, I know all about this. But I feel more and more reluctant of updating my core version, which is also not a good approach.
It is like being a security guy at the door. You do what you have to do in the according situation, but there are rules and frame work you have to apply and follow. The last option in this job is to quit, which would mean I would shut down my node.
