I never saw Maul as a real apprentice initiated into the mysteries of the sith, just someone trained to fight with the force, although Maul may have thought he was an apprentice. Dooku got the real sith training, hence the force lightning.
All those inquisitors running around at other times aren't sith, just force sensitive enforcers.
But there is a penalty for littering. Some people might refrain from littering not because it's the right thing to do, but because they don't want a fine.
The lack of repercussions for being a scumbag and abandoning your cart is what makes it a good test.