Vito Corleone, What world have you been living in, I have been called for interviews all over the UK in my past life, once with the RAC, 1st interview in Leeds at 8am, 2nd interview in London again early morning, I travelled the day before on both occasions and stayed overnight at my expense, then worked for an Irish firm, 1st interview in Stoke, 2nd in Wellesbourne, as before travelled on previous days and stayed overnight at my expense.
I got both jobs but thats irrelevent.
Maybe next time you get a sniff of something, put in your covering letter that you will only be interviewed in your own home, or within a 10 mile radius of it, or anywhere else at the companys expense. See how far you get.
Yes its annoying, but get real.