These developments appear to be aimed at treating the symptoms (arrival regulations) rather than the cause (low/understaffing) in order to keep the ATC cost down.
The continuous squeezing of costs is driven by the airlines (who have a stake in the major ATC provider), passengers and the regulator.
Old-school rules are being challenged in all areas (En-Route, Approach & Towers) in the quest for “progress” down this route.
The above posts are testament to that - and add to that proposed ‘remote tower centres’.
“Operational and efficiency benefits” is a phrase more popular than ever in certain circles.
Out of all the players the regulator certainly has an interesting role - how on one hand to demand ANSP cost-cutting whilst on the other hand improve on an already impressive safety record (or, at least, not diminish it).
Every rule bent introduces some new risk simply because it hasn’t been done before - by one ATCO. Sure technology can help to mitigate the new risks but the more eggs (good or otherwise!) that you put in one basket the greater the risk of breakages.
Palatable at the supermarket perhaps, less so at the pointy end.