What is it with fantasy and SA?

Don't you just hate it when a character gets SA, especially, when plot wise it makes no sense?

I was reading the spellmonger which I must admit, is a good read. Lots of humour to go around and enough magical lore to keep a man sane. There has been hints of SA which were appropriate for the storyline. This one however, feels out of place and is quite frankly, very stimulating. Are there no other means of evoking emotion or devices that authors can us? Any similar experiences?