Both my parents generally follow The Majlis.

Answer

You have, Alhamdulillah, understood the issue correctly. The argument of being 'too strict' is a shaitaani deception. Even most molvis and muftis today fail to understand this shaitaani deception and snare. While ordinary people – laymen – use the term 'too strict', the moron molvis and maajin muftis of today say that it is 'taqwa', not 'fatwa. They merely exhibit their jahaalat.

They fail to understand that when they say that an Aalim is 'too strict', they are actually faulting the Shariah. They are alleging that the Shariah is 'too strict', hence has to be set aside.

This implies that, Nauthubillah, Allah Ta'ala has imposed on us such masaa-il which are 'too strict' and beyond our bearing capability. The Qur'aan Majeed outrightly rejects this satanic notion: "We have not imposed on anyone anything which is beyond his bearing capacity." (Qur'aan)

This type of argument for rejecting Shar'i masaa-il, used to be proffered by the mushrikeen to Rasulullah (Sallallahu alayhi wasallam). Since the mushrikeen despite their idolatry, also believed in One Creator, viz., Allah Ta'ala, they hesitated to say that they were rejecting the Revelation of Allah Ta'ala. Thus, they made Rasulullah (Sallallahu alayhi wasallam) the scapegoat for their rejection. In this regard, the Qur'aan Majeed states:

"Verily, We are aware that what they (the mushrikeen) are saying grieves you (O Muhammad!). They are not rejecting you. But in reality, the zaalimeen (oppressors) are rejecting the Aayaat of Allah."

(Al-An'aam, Aayat 33)

Thus, your parents and all others of the same thinking, are in reality implying that Allah Ta'ala is 'too strict', and this is KUFR. Whatever we proclaim is nothing but the pure Shariah. It is not our personal opinion.