Comment by glenngillen

shadow power dynamics is the answer. Someone with a title of "Regional VP of Sales" thinks they have a lot of power and influence and will exert that to get whatever they want. An IC engineer or product manager understandably wants to avoid the inevitable conflict and potential escalation should they refuse to attend. I agree they should just decline. I also understand the reality is more complicated because they know a decline isn't actually the end and the anxiety about what would follow can itself feel exhausting when it happens so often. So they choose to pick their battles/take the short-term path of least resistance.