"Was this ever considered for NYC Landmark status? And if not, why the hell not?"
I think it's the fact that NYU has deeper pockets than anyone else. They are ruining Greenwich Village and as long as the city gets their cut, they don't care. Bloomberg doesn't really have a heart for preservation.
If anyone ever tells you that you put too much Parmesan cheese on your pasta, stop talking to them. You don't need that kind of negativity in your life.