Popa, in some parts of the world, making shabbos normal time would mean lighting candles at 9.30 or later in the summer. So we make early shabbos (with plag hamincha, which means lighting at 8pm the latest).
I am of the opinion that the meal should be started straight away – as jbaldy said, many people are hungry. As I tell my husband, everyone can talk as much as they like after kiddush and challa, but some of us are waiting to eat.