I don't know why there have to be so many threads on something that is a non-problem. Through the miracle of modern technology, most phones have a disconnect button. Just use it.

As to the "why," clearly Hilton and other consumer-facing businesses get sufficient uptake on this stuff to make it worth the company's while to pay the call center employee to sit on the phone.

There are no free lunches. If there are points or a free breakfast or some other close to useless thing and you want to sit and listen, by all means.