Tomuchwork,
'Open' SOP might work well on a mature operator with reasonably experience pilot coming from similar background. But airline like EK, QR or GF can't afford to do that. With pilots coming from every corner of the world and different aviation background, the SOP need to be more specific or detailed without leaving too much of grey area. The cadets intake has strenghten the need to do this.
Maybe it is a nuisance but necessary.