The problem here is that the etiquette card is usually played. That is to say inviting your opponent to resign is considered rude. Playing on to the end is considered the 'correct' thing to do. Some others suggest your opponent lives in hope of you making a huge blunder or not see a potential stale mate coming. Others still put foreward the idea that you might be gracious enough to complete the game (and his or her defeat) by way of their education. The list goes on...I myself agree with you but I am not sure what percentage of players are like minded.
Regards ekorbdal (Adam)
I'm willing to bet that I'm spending over 50% of my time on live chess playing out positions that are already clearly won. All those pathetic griefers who play on in positions where they're down a full rook without any compensation are sickening me to no end. Some players on this site are extremely immature and can't acknowledge their loss, so they will just waste your time by pointlessly dragging out the game. It's become impossible for me to play a game with longer (15m+) time controls because if I have a won position after a few minutes, chances are that my opponent will still use all his remaining time and let me sit there frustrated. If any of these people behaved the same way in a club, no one would want to play against them, but they can just get away with it on the internet. The fun I have on this site playing interesting chess is just ruined by the boredom from having to wait endlessly every time I've won a game.
If I kindly ask my opponent to resign so we can play another game and save time, 90% won't respond at all (sometimes because they don't even understand English) and 10% will say 'just play'. The lack of any normal communicative reason in these people is appalling.
Chess.com, could you please do something against this rude behaviour? Just make it clear to players that they're expected to resign in hopeless positions and make it possible to report anyone who doesn't. If you investigate the reports and find that someone will, out of grief, never resign, warn them or take measures.