Ah, yes, that's definitely true in Link's Awakening. It may just be something to do with LA being a proper Virtual Console game rather than a quick and hasty port. I suspect that whenever we get GBA/NES/(hopefully) SNES titles on the Virtual Console, we'll get functionality patches for the Ambassador titles.
How are the lords in Sacred Stones? I hear the dude is a spear user. That is pretty cool. Maybe he will be as good as NepheneeeEEEHAHAHAHAHA I almost finished.