I teach writing at a community college (I began in January), and I agree with this.

I wouldn't see that student as a sign of poor discipline. If the student was arguing solely about the grade, then like you, I would see it as a waste of time and emotional energy -- his and mine.

Incidentally, one of the things I like about the class I'm teaching is that, even before I got there, the syllabus was set up to get students thinking about their purposes in writing the various essays they write, and the purposes the authors of the assigned readings had. Many of my students aren't getting further than "the purpose is to inform" (argh!) yet, but at least I have an opportunity to teach the difference between instrumental goals and terminal goals.