I've read similar instructions regarding ISBN etc. I suspect the instructions can only practically apply to print editions - since an ebook has no "verso of the title page". I would suggest, however, that the intention is that the material is expected at the start even in ebooks. I have laid out my ebook editions the same as my paper edition, largely because I think it is better to have the pieces in predictable locations for those that want to find them.
The issue of front matter is not critical to Kindle editions, since they will jump to the (marked) start of text automatically, I'm not sure what other readers will do that (my Sony doesn't).
I, too, tend to peruse the front matter of any book I pick up, but I suspect that isn't a good recommendation for normality
. I couldn't say why I started doing it, but these days it's almost a ritual (what was that I was saying about normality?
)