I believe it is to have favorable slots in and out of MIA and NYP. This is irritating to many of us in the middle of the route (ie: Savannah) where neither train is really favorable, though the Meteor isn't TOO bad.
As a frequent rider, I'm sure you're aware of this, but this is for those who aren't:
The Star takes nearly 4 1/2 hours longer to complete the route. It leaves 3 1/2 hours later than the Meteor out of MIA and gets to NYP 8 hours later. I don't quite understand why the Star leaves MIA after the Meteor. From NYP to MIA, the Star leaves around 4 hours earlier and arrives about 1 hour before the Meteor. Total trip time is about 27 1/2 hours for the Meteor and 31 1/2 hours for the Star. This makes the Meteor sort of an "express" Silver Service. With the exception of the stop in Jesup, the Star serves all the same stations as the Meteor and plus some. I beleive this is also why the Star has one less coach and sleeper and they are not sold out as often and their ticket prices are generally cheaper.
All I can figure is that "big" stations like MIA, ORL, JAX, WAS & NYP want nice calling times.
If I were king for a day, I would try the following: Switch the Star's departure times with the Meteor's then change the schedule from PM to AM. This would have the Star leaving NYP at 11 PM, arriving DC at 3 AM, Jax at 7 PM, Orlando at 10 PM and Miami at 6 AM. It'd be real cool to get to Miami early in the moring. On the return, it would leave MIA at 8 PM, hit TPA at 1:50 AM, ORL at 4 AM, Jax at 7:30 AM, DC at Midnight, and NYP at 4 AM. Switch Jesup from the Meteor to the Star
You know, I don't think that the majority of the people who ride these train would like that sorta schedule. I suppose that's why it is what it is.