What I expected to happen

The left torch, attached to the burnout, may flicker on and off while the right torch burns out, but stays on after the burnout has finished:

What actually happens

In two directions, East and South, the left torch instead burns out together with the right, and after a while turns back on, causing them both to burn out again, creating a clock. 

This occurs in singleplayer as well as in spigot. Although there are benefits to locationality/directionality, namely increased options for circuitry, as an experienced redstoner I don't see any use to having both torches burn out, and on the other hand am aware of many contraptions which break due to this bug.