Kindeyes: I agree. I have served as group rep for an Al-Anon meeting and so have sat in on those higher-level meetings. I have also sat at meetings that were hijacked by other people's idea of what should happen at meetings (literature, prayers, etc). If a group leader was strongly of a particular religious persuasion and was allowed to, that meeting could turn into a mid-week church service and absolutely turn away those of us not in agreement.
For those who do not think it is a big deal - just go to a meeting for a while that does not follow the steps and traditions and see the difference.
I prefer the meetings that stick to the steps and traditions.
Good topic.