MATS 1 Section 2 Ch1 page 8 para 9.4.2 refers to why a controller has to pass such a clearance and, as it is a clearance, it has to be read back.
Speaking as the person who "invented" runway incursions in the UK, I can say that there was no evidence that the old style of clearance to a holding point, which included an implied clearance to cross any runway in the way, ever caused a problem which resulted in a runway incursion. Some ATCO out there (not SRG) thought it might and raised the issue.
When you look at it from a risk assessment point of view then it is clear that there is a risk, so SRG accepted the point and altered the basic procedure.
Now, of course, there is a danger that it is done (and read back) by rote especially when it refers to little used runways and the RI danger is back to where it was before!