To me the only thing the savage delay shows is that players are unable to control themselves. It looks like they want to be protected from their own behavior. It seems unusual to me that players activly asking SE to force delay something. Usually it's the other way around and they want all at once.

Everything the delay accomplishes was also possible before but players willingly chose to rush through the story to start raiding. It was always possible to leisurely do the story and start raiding thereafter, let it be some days or also a week later. Now people will say what is with statics where some players want to rush and some not. Well, you can adapt to one side or you can look for like-minded players, as people say. There is no difference if people just wait a week to get into savage or as now have to wait a week to get into savage. Did some people fear that other players could get ahead and have one gear piece more than them when they decide not to rush? But then there is to ask why is it your business what other people do.