It's not just because the media puts it that way.
There are several things that I often hear in Mao's interviews:
1. She wants to be "perfect" or make "no mistakes."
2. She wants to improve and challenge herself every year.
3. How much she feels strongly about 3A.
4. She wants to win OGM.
Also, not only 3A has always been in her program, but also there has been some addition to that, such as steps going into 3A (06-07), two 3As in LP (08-09), and then 3A in SP (09-10).
When she was in a great slump earlier this season, ppl suggested that she should ditch the heavy programs and the three 3As plan. But she was like "If I give up, what I have worked for last season and earlier this season are going to be in vein." That's what Dai said around the Olympics, too: If he gives up the quad, what he had worked for throughout the season is going to be in vein.
In Vancouver, Dai had to try a quad in LP to win the gold with Plushy finishing ahead of him in SP. This time, the situation is different, which is why I was willing to give him credit for it instead of thinking that he is doing sort of lip service or saying it for publicity. And, I hope he doesn't try a quad this time. He deserves the championship and doesn't need to risk it.
As for Mao, all the reasons you gave do not suggest that she would have tried 3A in Vancouver if she could win the gold without it. Well, at least, you don't sound having too big an issue with practicality of it.