My issue is with the premise that our long term care responsibility is somehow not owned by us and that inheritance desires takes precedence over one's own responsibility to fund care until death.
From the OP:
Isn't that what any subsidy does, including any the ACA subsidy? They conserve assets for a later day, possibly inheritance.
The ACA does it with short term care. I do not see how avoiding LTC costs by avoiding work altogether, spending on what I would consider frivolous items throughout ones life, or restructuring ones assets are any different. The end results is someone else pays.
Any legal means necessary to avoid costs is OK by me. That is what the law(s) are designed for. Spend it, give it away, hide it or burn it. I do not buy LTC insurance for a reason. I do not care if someone else has to pay for my LTC. I paid enough in my lifetime already. That's what printing money is for.
To the OPs point, you can also investigate a Medicaid divorce if one of you winds up in a LTC facility, or is much more likely to wind up there. While they are looked at with a jaded eye, there are attorneys that can help.
If you are going to burn up assets in a LTC facility, you can burn up assets in home care instead. Once the assets are depleted, the LTC facility can take over. It may make for a few better month's at home.
If one is a Veteran, there are assistance programs to help with the LTC costs. My father received an additional per-diem of ~$1300 a month, with COLA while he was in. Plus Vets can get into a Veteran care facility.
Do not forget that any other assistance programs may be available to help cover the interim, especially if you get a divorce and it is a single person with limited assets and no income applying.
If you are not married, you may consider getting married if the SS benefits increase. That is in my plan too as it will mean another $600 a month or so for my situation. It's not a lot, but could pay for something.