The great majority of train tickets I bought in europe, were not for a specific train, they were from city a to city b. I could hop on any train that ran between them, some were not even issued for specific dates. I know they have tickets issued for specific trains and dates, I just did not tend to buy them.

The airlines make the rules and have to live by them just as the passenger does. If it is the airlines fault that you are late than they have to correct it. Whether that be by holding the connecting flight, or putting you on another one. It is there decision and we have to live with it whether we are the late passenger or already sitting on the plane.