Man faces deportation because UK wife "not earning enough"

But costs of living are different in different parts of the country!

Am I right in thinking that citizens of other EU countries face no such restrictions when they bring a spouse to the UK?

It's not a precedent, it's following rules that have been in place for some time.

Quote from the BBC article : But under rules introduced in 2012, British citizens who want to bring a foreign spouse to the UK must earn £18,600 a year and a further £3,800 - a total of £22,400 - if the couple have a child.

This is setting a dangerous precedent.
Even if she is getting tax credits, family allowance etc, that is on her earnings as a UK citizen - it would be the same if she was married to a UK citizen.

And who is to say that he won't get a job at some point when the child is a bit older - he is a qualified yacht engineer, I thought there could be some openings in Cornwall for someone with those qualifications.

It does seem odd if they are living on the income they do have.

As long as he's not claiming benefits I don't see what the problem is. She's earning a reasonable wage for Cornwall.