A better way of handling that situation would be something like "Reduce to minimum Mach no., 250kt on descent, expect vectors. Landing time is xxxx".
And if they did that, there would be a band of pilots saying, "why do that, I can descent to a lower level and absorb the delay and the pax won't be any the wiser. I should be given the landing time and be allowed to manage it as I see fit."
