MCSA, MCSD, MCSE certifications retire; with continued investment to role-based certifications

There are moves made that you don't like, but you understand, but this I just can't wrap my head around. I have some of my guys on MCSA tracks. Now I must tell them
"Sorry, Microsoft is being Microsoft again. You know all that effort that I've asked you to put in to train beyond your normal work duties? Yes, the knowledge is still useful, but there's no longer a carrot at the end for you.". You may not care much about that, but it makes me look bad as a manager and it sews doubt about our own roadmap with you as a technology provider.
Don't mistake this for hyperbole. 
Businesses have massive amounts of capital invested in on-prem technologies and most couldn't simply switch over if they wanted to, and some of us are contractually not allowed to be in the cloud.