Where exactly did Timothy even hint at, never mind suggest, that he didn't follow published proceedures?
The Swiss are anal, but not THAT anal - I doubt the immigration officer sent the van after them just because he was bored. Just because you CAN walk out directly on the apron in Bern doesn't mean it's a good idea to bypass customs if flying out of Schengen.
Now as to the bus - if you read the AIP and have the jackets with you, you can just tell the handler bus driver to bugger off and walk over to the terminal, and there's really nothing he can do.
Considering I managed to land there without a flight plan despite it being a mandatory flight plan airport - and did not get marched off to some somber gaol, I really doubt they bother coming to see you just to be entertained.
Now as to the government control paranoiacs that see Big Brother into the hi-viz obligation, I suggest a bit of Swiss history is in order. As you may recall (or not) with the introduction of the Schengen agreement and the designated "airport secure zones" (of which the ramp is part of) access to that area has been restricted to holders of airport IDs. Everyone else was supposed to get shuttled to the plane under supervision of airport ID holders. Considering that would have meant an 80 quid charge every time you'd go to your local friendly club for a bimble around the Alps, an agreement was struck whereby crew and passengers under crew's supervision are allowed to walk the apron (as long as no taxiway crossing is involved) freely as long as they wear the hi viz jackets (that all airport workers are wearing). Non-point of entry airports are not bothered about the hi vizs, that's why in places like Lausanne, Gruyères etc etc you won't see them.
So for those of you who see it as a government imposition on us - it was actually the other way around. Your UK (or European) mileage might vary, but that's how it happened here.