I support my folks needing to work remote, or weird hours to handle their stuff, because life doesn't stop between 9-5.
For me to do my job effectively, I want to get to know people as more than just their output. That happens by having lunch as a team, playing foosball, happy hours, going to movies, and so forth.
I'm not talking about value judgments in that I admit there are probably more toxic employee/employer relationships than toxic cult relationships. Toxic cult realtionships are more famous, brogrammers, literally drinking the kool aide, etc.
Just saying the number of people wanting a professional relationship is going to be a lot higher than people wanting a cult relationship, so you're going to have trouble building the best team when you're limiting the hiring pool to, well, basically friends.
Some tech companies have abused this mentality to make this feel like a cult relationship, but I see this as just like any non-tech company that has company sponsored soft-ball teams, bowling leagues, picnics, holiday parties etc.
I think I understand your sentiment, but I do believe if you were to speak to the people who work for me, they don't feel that it's a cult.
Google's research into management had a pretty strong point that managers who took interest in someone as more than an employee were more effective.
Then again, people in a cult, never say they're in a cult.
There's nothing I loathe more than a manager with a weak mindset.
The best thing for me is success of the company. If the manager isn't strong enough to do what it takes, then the company will suffer in the long run.