Sierra I was thinking the same same thing with regards to cost index or LRC. Alternatively, if hypothetically I was PIC not even upper management would influence my decision to take on extra fuel. It sounds like these decisions come from beancounters that have never been near an aircraft in thier life.
If extra fuel is taken but not burnt, who the he'll cares. The remaining fuel would mean the next fuel load to be added will be less, thus not "costing" more money.
It ain't rocket science!!
Rocket