One must accept the fact that one cannot expect individual publishers to standardize their business instincts when licenses for subscriptions to journals are concerned, even though this creates a burden for librarians. Journals are now the most crucial life line for most STM publishers, and they will not accept suggestions that they trim their philosophies and economic needs to a procrustean bed when these needs impact different publishers differently. The economic clout of librarians has already greatly diminished with their cutback of book purchases.
Publishers view journals as their last and most essential stand.
One can and should talk about the ideal, simplified world, but reality dictates otherwise, for the present.