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I guess the main advantage used to be that you could ride your path/fixed bike on the track when you took off your brake(s) and guards. Nowadays we N+1 it.
lesterama-
Yes, I'm sure you're correct, the axle should not 'creep forward' and even if it did it would not move evenly, but jam as mentioned above.
On your second point, I think there's something in what you say. Nowadays very few people actually ride their bikes to races and, as you say, we have multiple bikes.
However, track ends must give more scope for chain adjustment, so you can have a bigger difference between the sprockets on a double sided hub, which might be useful to an ambitious time triallist riding out to a flat course suitable for a big gear. Is there anyone who would still do that?
clubman
There is a much simpler solution.
The forward opening dropouts which were a standard feature on road frames for many decades (say 1910 - 1980, at least) are angled down towards the front. This is precisely to maintain the correct angle of the brake blocks (pads if you will) as the wheel moves in the
fork end.
The attached pic of my Gillott shows this angle - I could find a clearer example, but I happen to have this one conveniently to hand.
A question: for non track use, can anyone explain why it is better to have rearward opening ends for fixed?
I can see disadvantages (eg: with mudguards it's difficult to get the wheel out to change a punctured tube), but no real advantages.