Because the iPad 1 is low on power and if I leave Avadon running in the background other stuff is going to be affected. I'm also not sure when the iOS will shut down the process, since it is still not a 100% multitasking. Only some processes are allowed to run, most are only allowed to finish a task.
And I'm not too keen on letting An unsaved game running in the background. Risks are it will be ended by the iOS anyway and I'm left with the last save game again -> my question of allowing saving in combat
Not to mention the other family members that run other stuff and games (which might ask, like Avadon, to terminate all other programs to allow smooth gameplay).
As for the save-scum, yes that's a possibility but... Isn't that basically the same with saving anyway? Only in larger steps of course. And reloading is not much fun on an ipad 1. It's got a load screen that takes a bit...