So you suggest that they offer a premium product for free? Less people would buy a flexible ticket if they knew they could change a cheap, fixed ticket at will. Having been in the position of being at the airport and watching flights to my destination depart I share your frustration but I can see the commercial basis for BA's policy and think they would be foolish to change it. I like your second suggestion better but am concerned about the additional time taken for boarding as people stop to pick up their food.

In general I agree with the OP's comment that there are some low/no cost ways to improve customer experience on BA and remove some of the niggles.