I'd say I might've to a degree, but I've never though about themes, ideas, motifs and techniques while reading a book, I've just enjoyed it. In fact, analysing it and maybe even over analysing it makes the book much less enjoyable for me.
I think it's BOSTE that does the scaling for your HSC. Making English compulsory is fine, whether or not it is to be the basis of scaling.
ATAR is a separate matter done by UAC. It's UAC's policy to include English in the ATAR calculation even if it's your 11th/12th highest mark.
What OP proposes is indeed the case in WA. We are required to do minimum 5 or optionally 6 subjects, English must be one of these & requires at least a pass. ATAR uses the 4 highest marks so English can be 5th/6th and not counted towards ATAR (but still applicable to the HSC).
Here in WA, english is compulsory but your atar only comprises of your best 4 subjects (8 units). So if you just pass english, and you do much better in your other subjects, english won't count towards your atar.