I don't buy this "why can't you go for a couple of hours without eating/drinking" business.
It all depends on where you have come from, wether you had time to eat at home/airport, time of day/night etc.
A traveller may have got up really early, driven in heavy traffic for some distance, found themselves having to rush through boarding and not able to stop for even a coffee.
Then knowing that a proper breakfast will be provided is a godsend.