But, since the characters know that the house must play to 17 or higher it affects their choices, which in turn affects your strategy. What you're asking is similar to saying that players should be able to stop the flop at one card, it's a suggestion that might feel good, but has an affect on the psychology of the game, which would ruin it.
A lot of what characters will or won't hit on is not only based on the cards they draw, but also the flop. In fact, you can better play against them by tricking them into standing when they're below 17 and you have a decent flop. Some characters will also stand or hit if the flop is high compared to their hand.
The rules for the dealer aren't there for the players psychological benefit, though that is a great side-benefit, it's vital to good Blackjack strategy. If you're unhappy that you have to keep drawing cards, you should focus more on your manipulation strategy. If the flop is high, you should manipulate the gamblers into busting, since they'll lose as well.