Ultimately I think this approach is a consequence of 'over managing' which goes on at the top level. Obviously we understand why this happens, we'd all probably do the same. But it's a terrible look for the game. Set pieces already take forever.
Other examples of over managing are ridiculously soft defensive free kicks by ARs. This has enabled defenders diving as they know a free kick is guaranteed. And I've seen 3 CL games where the ref has got in the way of a player and they've stopped the game for a drop ball restart. The ball has not hit them and they cannot stop the game in law. But over managing kicks in to prevent controversy and they circumnavigate the laws to do so (funny how that's an offence for players but not for referees
)
Other examples of over managing are ridiculously soft defensive free kicks by ARs. This has enabled defenders diving as they know a free kick is guaranteed. And I've seen 3 CL games where the ref has got in the way of a player and they've stopped the game for a drop ball restart. The ball has not hit them and they cannot stop the game in law. But over managing kicks in to prevent controversy and they circumnavigate the laws to do so (funny how that's an offence for players but not for referees

