And I think the big point for Buddhists is not even so much about the specific lives, but the overall attitude of gratitude, humility, mindfulness of others and the general nature of life--that some must suffer and die for life to exist for others. One way (only one of many) that Buddhists reinforce those goals and their awareness of those truths is through apologies to those who suffer and die for human nourishment.
I think of it as being something akin to saying a prayer of thanks before a meal. This is like that gratitude, with the addition of an apology for the suffering we necessarily cause.
I think getting bogged down in the apology part of it rather misses the spiritual point...
Disclaimer: I'm FAR from an expert!
