A long haul commute immediately prior to reporting is a choice. Not a good one, but a choice. I know one guy who used to commute out on the very same aircraft he flew back to his home airport. He was sacked when found out, so in some cases the company does take notice.
I used to have a 3 hour drive to report for a long haul job. That was my limit. But when you have no choice such as in the case of the MK guys who died at Halifax, that's a very different matter!