1) That's sort of a tangential point. Maybe I wasn't clear in my original statement. But meetings that start immediately without any sort of ease-in, even if they are started on time (to your point), often feel really transactional. We're all working with other humans, not other robots! Remote work creates much less opportunity to connect with each other. Virtual meetings are one of the few times we do see our team face-to-face. And we should realize that socializing a bit can be just as productive as talking about actual "business". Icebreakers (even if the term sounds "cringe") are really helpful in that regard.

2) Agreed, your coworkers don't necessarily need to be your friends. At the same time, they also shouldn't be reduced to robots or black boxes that you interact with only when you need something from them. They're humans! As social creatures, we tend to work better with people when we trust them. Often, that trust is built on liking and/or respecting the other person. That's where icebreakers can be really important too.