I don’t think the change to command is much about the direction of the game or creating more ‘rules’ per se. I think it is directly tied to the upcoming VTT. It’s easier to code the computer calculation for a short subset of commands, than an open ended one. Likewise, summons and conjures are easier for the VTT to handle as AoE effects, rather than more processing power for multiple discrete additional creatures. Abilities mirroring spells, check. And so on.
I’d like to think that it’s because Wizards is trying to help newbie DM’s by limiting options in some cases, but looking at all the other bizarreness in the PHB, and interpretations of things, and actually trying to apply them (as a newbie GM), it’s definitely not that.