Why do some Sylvester palms look like this?

[jdl]

Why do some Sylvester palms look like this with short bottom fronds?

[sarasota alex]

It was trimmed this way for safety

 

[Jim in Los Altos]

Someone sheared the fronds part way off. 

[sonoranfans]

trimmed to save somebodys eyesight. The leaflet tips on a sylvestris are sharp, and this gets worse if it is a hybrid with some dactylifera in it.  That one doesnt look like a pure sylvestris, the leaves don't weep enough and the trunk is too thick.  In my neighborhood, there are both sylvesters and hybrids sold as sylvesters.  I had one of those "sylvestris", no thanks, I removed it about 7 years ago due to the hazard.  When they get taller, the trimming will be very hazardous for anyone standing under it or on a ladder.