Traditionally the blessing always happens on February 2 even if the Purification office and Mass are moved to Monday which happens after Septuagesima (although it’s supposed to be simplified in parishes, as opposed to cathedrals and collegiate churches). So I see no reason to suppress the blessing on weekdays since it can be merely recited.

The candles are like those of the vigil. We have fatter ones with big plastic cups that are easier to manipulate. It is emphatically not the time to bless everyone’s candles. It’s really for these candles to be distributed and for the church’s candles. There is a blessing in the Ritual for blessing candles otherwise, and people need to be reminded that they need to bring a reasonable amount of candles if the priest is willing to also bless those candles — La Salette is not the Gospel.

I can’t remember off of the top of my head the exact Roman custom for lighting and extinguishing candles. But surely someone here can find what the preconciliar practice would be. For want of more explicit instructions in the missal, I would do that.

Fortescue (1918)

During Mass the candles are held lighted during the gospel, and from the Sanctus to the end of the Communion.

That may refer just to the ministers candles, not those of the congregation, kneeling with candles and bowing at the consecration sounds hazardous!
In small churches -

If the procession is not made, strictly, the candles should not be blessed. They are blessed and distributed primarily in order to be held during- the procession. Indeed, in many countries the candles are given back to the church afterwards. But in England it is not unusual to bless and distribute candles at Candlemas, even when there is no procession. People keep them for use at sick calls, or to burn around the bed of a dying person.

I'm speaking directly for the OF, Ordinary Form. In which the Roman Missal states "The faithful hold in their hands unlighted candles..... While the candles are being lit.... etc... All carry lighted candles"

(And I decided to go to Mass again to focus on God rather than music.)

I'm a bit of a purist compared to my pastor who wanted the Sparrow Mass for Christmas but a) not the time, nor the place and b) the commentary is hardly needed.

Right, I understand this from the thread title, that it's about the Novus Ordo, but you said that there's no mention of extinguishing them. However they are too messy and dangerous frankly to keep lit the whole time, so the traditional practice seems wise to follow as it's not contradicted by the new missal. There is also great symbolism in lighting them for the Gospel and during the Canon; at a Requiem, they're lit as well for the absolutions (ironically the acolytes don't hold their lit candles at a Requiem!)

“Not to be lit” is ridiculous. And people hold their palms anyway. What are you going to do, write to Rome to whine that the celebrant takes up his palm again for the Passion?

There is no contradictory rubric. People are free to do this or not. But it’s really obnoxious that you think that the trad way is forbidden when it is clearly not. It may not be intended. It rarely is. But you’re doing a great service for the traditionalists when you insist on this.

Where does the harsh tone come from?

Because you insist that it cannot be done. But OK. More power to you. I will happily crusade for the abolition of the NO when all is said and done.