BOAC your amplified explanation is one i would go along with. Like you I would like to think I would never have found myself in that situation and would have made an early decision to "cut and run" to get ahead of the queue at the diversion airfield. Myself and the F/O would have then been having a nice relaxing cup of tea on the ground whilst waiting for ops to decide what they wanted us to do next, whilst some of my colleagues still in the air were wishing they had done the same.
In my opinion this has less to do with company fuel policy and more about the low experience levels of some of the crews.
We are both on the same page here.....