I agree they are non-starters when talking about tow ratings. We can't change those, but I find value in discussing how those ratings are derived and whether safety is actually the primary concern.
There could be a strong argument (using the different models of the Ford
Escape for example) that ratings are used to boost sales of larger motors and provide a cushion of safety for the warranty claims department. If the only difference between the higher rated version is horsepower and torque the rating seems to be more about what is preferred for towing, not what is safe for towing.
Now as far as the CX-5 is concerned. They don't have a version rated high enough to tow my trailer so there could be a number of reasons beyond horsepower and torque numbers. The final drive ratio according to cars.com is 4.62 while the
Escape is 3.07. That probably means the CX-5 will be hunting for gears with a heavy load in tow. So even if the chassis is safe, the transmission could be prone to failure. If my assumptions about that are true, I most likely don't want a CX-5 right now.
...there are rumors of the CX-5 getting a Diesel in the near future. Last report claimed 2016 model year. Not sure I want to wait over a year to find out what those specs will be. I could always pick up a used
Escape and drive it for a few years until Mazda gets their act together.