Honestly, i think the main reason a lot of managers love meetings is that they are extroverts and mainly exert influence through their social skills which gives them a huge leg up in face to face encounters (whether virtual or in person). Meanwhile most of the "workers" are introverted or less socially skilled so much less able to or likely to argue against whatever dumb proposition is on the table. Managers repeatedly experience this as "when I talk directly with people I get what I want more easily" and conclude that meetings are very productive. Meanwhile technical people repeatedly experience utterly moronic outcomes happening in meetings (usually which they end up committed to and having to clean up) and learn to despise them.