Really? I got a 2006 MacBook Pro in Dec 2006, and each year I had to buy a new battery from Apple as it generally got down to 30-40% capacity.
First time it happened (and was still under warrantee), I took it into Apple, and they said it was normal, and they only replaced batteries if it was defective.
I went through 5 batteries until I got a 2011 MacBook Pro.
Back then the batteries were only rated for 300 cycles so if you were above that they wouldn’t exchange it. Apple did exchange the battery in my MacBook Pro (2007) three or four times or so (I had Apple Care, so warranty for three years) because I had similar problems you had – but each time my battery was below 300 cycles. As far as I know that is official Apple policy. I never had to convince or smooth talk anyone, they just exchanged in, no questions asked. And I didn’t exchange the battery always in the same place, once or twice over telephone, at an Apple Authorised Service Provider, at an Apple Store.
I had previously had terrible luck with their batteries. That changed for me when they stopped making them removable (thankfully!) For the removable batteries in my 2005 or 2006 Apple said they had a lifetime of 200 cycles (mine never reached that). My current MBP is supposed to have a lifetime of 1000 cycles. I'm a few hundred in and have high 80 or low 90 % capacity. It might not meet their expectation, but quite a bit better for my needs.
First time it happened (and was still under warrantee), I took it into Apple, and they said it was normal, and they only replaced batteries if it was defective.
I went through 5 batteries until I got a 2011 MacBook Pro.