Well, I'm NOT Al, not even close. He's the handsome one. I'm...well, I'm just me.
This can have several considerations depending upon your responsibility. Inspector for a company as QC. Third party inspector doing WPQ testing. Working for a fabricator, the welder, or the customer of the fabricator.
I understand what you are saying and there are two aspects. First, you can't really look at the weld root, see cracks from the bottom side, and/or check the weld's penetration without removing the backing. Second, as John mentions, you can save time by looking at the root from the weld side to see if the person is even worth letting continue or is wasting everyone's time and money.
One is more aligned with the code and the other is an economic perspective.
Then, as mentioned previously, there are times when the backing isn't removed; if RT is to be used in place of bends.
And how long has the exact wording been the same in this clause and was it put in taking currently proper terminology into account? So, does weld root actually apply to the root pass?
Some of these questions may be impossible to answer. But, I look at it this way: I am accountable/responsible to make sure the welder is competent and qualified per the applicable code. While this may not be code enforceable how many welders and companies understand the application enough to challenge me if I say I want a hold point after the cleaning of the root pass so I can inspect it based upon D1.1 Clause 4.9.1.1? If they are paying me to witness the test anyway then it isn't costing them anymore and may actually save them money.
Terminology comes into play once again with the question really being: Is it needed? Prudent? Required? Mandated? OR...
While I believe the OP was a wrong application of the procedure I don't know if you can say that you have been doing it wrong. John, Al, Lawrence, Allan, myself or others may do it differently but is it wrong to NOT look at the root pass before letting the welding continue? That would completely remove any testing facility from EVER receiving coupons and testing them without having witnessed the root pass. While I would prefer that, it isn't worded that way.
My personal two tin pennies worth? We really do need to look at the root after cleaning and before allowing more passes. We can tell a lot from that inspection. Would we win a court battle on the wording demanding we do so? I don't think so.
He Is In Control, Have a Great Day, Brent