That's a great recipe for tactically throwing a hand-grenade onto the table just when it's time to go. My experience in important meetings is that attendees time is more valuable than a few tens of pounds on train fares, and if the meeting didn't get through the agends then there was an on-cost to deal with the matter another time. I can only assume that some employers who obsess over fares are either low payers, or they regard attendees as token representatives rather than persons sent to do genuine work for the company.
I get what you're saying, but depending on what company or organisation you work for, people could be travelling for various parts of the country & options can often be limited for travel home even from large cities. If important matters are on the agenda, then it is the responsibility of the organiser to ensure adequate time is given & where late running is possible, overnight provision be catered for. But meeting etiquette is a little off topic, so..
Back on the subject matter, its all way too early to speculate on how one TOC's thoughts will impact on the future direction. However, it is my firm belief that if the model of a privately run railway system continues to be the preferred method by this and future governments, and there is nothing to suggest this direction will change any time soon, radical changes are needed to the franchise system. And make no mistake, the airline modelling will be looked at seriously because for those airlines that have made it work, it can & does offer a combination of cheap fares (albeit with a myriad of caveats), flexibility (if you are willing to pay for it), bolt on products (which equals direct & unregulated profits for operators), and ultimately a "simplified" system for customers to make their choices from. It might not be the right direction to go, but as things stand it may be the easiest shift to make under a wholly privatised industry.