Hmm still weird for me...I don't really understand why it HAS to be the 1st sequence that will be considered as the step sequence.
Why don't the ladies do this anyway? Is it because they don't have enough time in their FS?
The ISU specified that 2012-13 well-balanced Senior Freeskate programs will include a Step Sequence and a Choreographic Sequence. Ladies have to include a spiral in their Choreo sequence, but men do not.
The ISU also specified that the Step Sequence must be executed first in the program. Doing the Choreo Sequence first will result in its being called as Transitions. The tech geek in me says that it has something to do with the scoring software program, but I'm suspicious that way. Might just be that they wanted to see the Step Sequences early in the program, before the skater starts to get tired.
In Senior Single Free Skating the Technical Panel will first identify the Step Sequence and only after this sequence is performed will look for and identify the Choreographic Sequence. If a skater performs their Choreo Sequence prior to the Step Sequence, it will be considered a series of Transitions.
Important to note that Choreo Sequences can include listed jumps, which will be "identified and occupy jumping boxes," even though the sequence itself does not have a value.
Source:
http://www.usfsa.org/content/First%20Aid%20Singles.pdfAs to why the Senior Mens Freeskate programs are more obviously including two sequences, my guess would be that they need a breather during their program so that they conserve energy for the second half. It's difficult for them to get power from the Choreo sequence steps for their jumps, so they mostly perform footwork in the second sequence. The ladies choreo sequences, because they have to include the spiral, probably aren't as obvious to you, but they have to include it or they'd lose points. My guess would be the Ladies perform more artistic elements than the Men.
Why don't you try checking the ISU Protocols? It takes a bit of effort to learn the coding and methodology, but it sounds like you'd be intrigued by the challenge.
http://www.isu.org/vsite/vnavsite/page/directory/0,10853,4844-182502-199720-nav-list,00.html(Click on the "Protocols" links to see how each skater was scored.)