It seems that, usually, they are not actually looking for what you would do in the situation, but rather what you think they should do.
Then, when you tell them what you would do if you were in their shoes, you get a rebuttal. (usually something like, "Yeah, but....blah blah blah..." where they give you a whole new set of crap to try to get you to change your response) Meaning that they actually took it as YOU TELLING THEM WHAT THEY SHOULD DO and they don't want to do it.
If they were actually asking for what YOU would do in said situation, there would be no room for a rebuttal, would there? They would take what you say at face value and see how they could apply your take on the situation to their final action.
- sigh*
People just need to say what they mean. :)
Sometimes they really do need to give you more details becuse there is a reason in there mind why that won't work. Then sometimes they just want you to say what they where going to do, that way it justifies them doing what they are going to do. But I can understand why that drives you insane.